S – In fact, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were going to experience affliction, and as you know, it happened. 

1 Thessalonians 3:4 CSB

O – Commentary:

Afflictions—common to all (Job 5:7; 14:1; Ps. 34:19); are for the good of men (James 1:2, 3, 12; 2 Cor. 12:7) and the glory of God (2 Cor. 12:7–10; 1 Pet. 4:14), and are to be borne with patience by the Lord’s people (Ps. 94:12; Prov. 3:12). They are all directed by God (Lam. 3:33), and will result in the everlasting good of his people (2 Cor. 4:16–18) in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:35–39).

 M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 23.

affliction:  thlibō, thlee´-bo; akin to the base of 5147; to crowd (lit. or fig.):— afflict, narrow, throng, suffer tribulation, trouble

 James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

A – Interesting verse – Paul told them they would suffer afflictions.  Situations, relationships, words and actions that challenge our faith in God.  Yet, they are directed by God to bring everlasting good.  This is where our faith is tested to its core and we have a choice.  Either we believe God is Lord and has our best interest in all situations or we don’t.  This is one of the most difficult parts of the Christian walk.

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you as the one and only true God.  Life is hard and has its afflictions.  Your word says you are in them and that they are for our benefit.  Sometimes, that challenges us to our core.  Empower us to put our trust in you in all things and let our love for you grow daily.

S – As you know, like a father with his own children, ¹² we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. 

1 Thessalonians 2:11–12 CSB

O – Commentary:

Paul also compared their behavior to that of a father. Here the implication is that they trained and instructed the Thessalonians as a responsible father disciplines his children. The word tekna, translated children, emphasizes the believers’ immaturity as well as the apostles’ affection. This verse is the fourth time Paul wrote you know (cf. 1:5; 2:2, 5).

2:12. The training provided included strong positive appeals (encouraging, parakalountes), soothing encouragement (comforting, paramythoumenoi), designed to cheer up and to inspire correct behavior, and solemn, earnest entreaty (urging, martyromenoi). Such a combination of appeals proved effective in moving the Thessalonians to action by the Holy Spirit’s convicting power.

The appeal to lead lives worthy of God is the highest of all for those who have tasted God’s grace in salvation. Paul heightened his exhortation by reminding his readers that they had been specially called by God, called to enter and be partakers in His kingdom and called to glorify and share in God’s glory.

 Thomas L. Constable, “1 Thessalonians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 695.

A – We need to encourage one another.  Following Christ comes with a price tag.  The enemy’s job is to “rob, kill and destroy” and he uses temptation, shame, fear and accusation to do it.  When we slow down and recognize someone else’s pain or challenge, we can do what Paul did – encourage, comfort and urge them to follow God genuinely.  This is why we are a body and not just individuals – we need each other.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the Great I Am.  Help us to see past our own challenges to really understand what other people are going through.  We can be a catalyst for someone else to feel love and supported.  Give us the ability to that as your Holy Spirit leads us.

S – …for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 

1 Thessalonians 1:9 CSB

O – Commentary:

These believers had turned to God, the only true God, from idols. This strongly suggests that many of those believers had been pagan Gentiles. The Jews, of course, abhorred idolatry. Someone has observed that humans have the freedom to choose who their master will be, but they do not have the freedom to choose no master. The Thessalonians had chosen to serve the living and true God rather than God’s creatures or satanic powers (cf. Rom. 1:18–23). The fact that God is a living Person was precious to the Jews and to Paul; this is the characteristic by which God is most often distinguished from so-called gods in the Old Testament. He is the only living God; all other gods are not alive and therefore not worthy objects of worship

 Thomas L. Constable, “1 Thessalonians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 692–693.

A – While these people chose to not serve idols that were statues or figures, we need to make the same choice for the idols we face today.  Anything that elevates itself above God in our lives is an idol.  We need to choose that God is only true God in our lives.  We can have things we enjoy and even love but not more than him.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, true God.  We choose you above everything else today.  Thank you that you are “personal” in our relationship with you.  Help us to keep you first in our lives today.

S – He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.

Colossians 2:14–15 CSB

O – Commentary:

the record of charges against us: The Greek phrase suggests an IOU that we have all signed. Since we are unable to pay what we owe, it stands against us. The law of God required obedience that people are unable to give, but God has forgiven our debt through the work of Christ (2:13).

2:15 he disarmed: Or he stripped off. • He shamed them publicly (literally he led [them] in triumphal procession): The Roman army would celebrate a great victory with a triumphal procession. The victorious Roman general would lead the humiliated captives from his campaign into the conquered city. The image vividly captures the glorious victory that God, through the cross of Christ, has won over all hostile spiritual powers 

 New Living Translation Study Bible (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008), Col 2:14–15.

A – Two strong concepts – Jesus nailed our IOU to the cross with him and he triumphed over all the forces who would enforce or remind us of the debt we owed.  We can live in victory and confidence knowing these truths.  It helps us to recognize that when the enemy challenges, tempts, shames and guilts us, he is speaking from a place of “already defeated.”  We can live from a place of complete victory knowing that Christ defeated the devil and all of his followers once and for eternity.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the victorious, risen Savior.  Thank you for paying our debt for our sin.  Your love for us in doing so allows us to walk in victory and confidence in your power to forgive our sins.  Empower us to do the same for others – forgive them when they sin against us.

S – Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, ¹⁴ I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.

Phipippians 3:13–14 CSB

O – Commentary:

What is behind” (niv) belongs to Paul’s image of the race; to win, one must keep one’s eyes on the finish line; Greek runners often ran in a straight line and back.

3:14. At the end of each race, officials had their heralds proclaim the winner and call him up to receive his prize (in the Olympic games, a palm branch). (“Above” or “upward” also alludes to Christ in heaven, 3:20; cf. Col 3:1–2.) In Paul’s metaphor, the prize is the full revelation of Christ at the resurrection (3:10–11).

 Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Second Edition (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic: An Imprint of InterVarsity Press, 2014), 564.

A – In our relationship with Christ, we are going to have to leave the past behind.  Victories, wins, challenges and defeats.  We cannot live in the past – we must live in the present with the future in our vision. We can learn, understand and grow from the past but then we need to move on to what is before us today.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are the God of the past, present and future.  We surrender the things of the past to you.  We will not live today allowing the memories of the past to dictate our words, thoughts and actions.  Empower us to face today with your Holy Spirit.

S – Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. ⁴ Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. 

 Philippians 2:3–4 CSB

O – Commentary:

Nothing was to be done out of selfish ambition (v. 3). The same word (eritheian) appears in 1:17 to describe the attitude of those who opposed Paul. Without question such behavior is of the flesh and not the Spirit (cf. Gal. 5:20, which uses the same word). Vain conceit, meaning “empty glory,” was probably the root cause of their selfish ambition.

The two negatives are followed by a positive exhortation: in humility consider others better than yourselves. But, a word of contrast, introduces these words. Humility before God and man is a virtue every child of God needs to strive for. A spirit of pride in human relations indicates a lack of humility before God. Paul exhorted the Philippians to consider others before themselves (cf. 1 Peter 5:5–6). “This will go far toward removing disharmony” (Homer A. Kent, Jr., “Philippians,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, 11: 122).

Paul explained how humility can be expressed (Phil. 2:4). Instead of concentrating on self, each believer should be concerned for the interests of others in the household of faith (cf. Rom. 12:10). Preoccupation with oneself is sin.

 Robert P. Lightner, “Philippians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 653–654.

A – This is a difficult challenge.  We are born into a nature that prioritizes ourselves.  Our basic instinct of protect and serve ourselves is true in food, clothing, shelter and basically, “What is best for me?”  This takes it a step further to elevate ourselves above God and/or others.  Humility recognizes our place with God and the value of others.  We can still take care of ourselves but we can also honor God and esteem others at the same time.

R – Heavenly Father, You are the One, True God.  Thank you for providing for our basic needs and for the relationship we have with you.  Empower us to elevate our thoughts and attitudes towards humility.  It isn’t thinking less of ourselves.  It is thinking more of You and others.

S – Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise, ³ so that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life in the land.^,

Ephesians 6:2–3 CSB

O – Commentary:

The promise for those who obey their parents is that they enjoy a prosperous and long life on the earth. This states a general principle that obedience fosters self-discipline, which in turn brings stability and longevity in one’s life. (Stated conversely, it is improbable that an undisciplined person will live a long life. An Israelite who persistently disobeyed his parents was not privileged to enjoy a long, stable life in the land of Israel. A clear example of this was Eli’s sons Hophni and Phinehas [1 Sam. 4:11].) Though that promise was given to Israel in the Old Testament, the principle still holds true today.

 Harold W. Hoehner, “Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 642.

A – There is no age limit to this command.  We should value and revere our parents as long as they are alive.  This is challenging for those whose parents are not in the same faith or where there are relational challenges.  Verse four addresses that by challenging the fathers not to stir up anger in the child.  We need to find the things they did that we can honor and allow that to be the foundation.  Parenting is usually based in sacrificing for the betterment of the child – we should be grateful.

R – Heavenly Father, you are a good Father.  Thank you for caring and providing for us like children.  You know what we need and what is best for us.  Help us to grow in our gratitude and honor of you.