Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 5:9 (the Message)
God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ.
Thought for the Day: On one level, I appreciate the optimism of those who say, “Rejection is the momentary darkness before the dawn of something new.” It is a nice thought, but most of us are not interested in pithy sayings when it feels as if we just got punched in the proverbial gut. The cute little thought might put a momentary smile upon our faces, but most of these quotable lines are rather empty of substantive meaning. In the aftermath of rejection, these sayings rarely offer any sort of foundation on which to stand. In 1st Thessalonians, Paul is dealing with folks who are concerned about the future and whether God might have rejected their loved ones who had already died. Paul puts on his pastor’s hat and speaks to them about the power of hope. This hope is based on a God who does not reject us in anger but seeks to rescue and redeem. I read this portion of scripture, and I feel as if it is saying that the world will often speak words of rejection that can cause chaos and instability within us. God doesn’t want us to live with questions and concerns, especially in those moments when we are feeling pretty fragile in the aftermath of rejection. For that reason, we hear of a God who does not threaten us with rejection but provides hope in the saving work of Jesus Christ – the one on whom we can begin to rebuild our lives with confidence.
Prayer: O Father God, we are humbled by the way you continue to speak with the generosity of your love. You find us where we are and reveal unshakeable truth on which we can construct our lives. Thank you! Amen.
TOMMOROW
Wednesday at Noon or 6:30pm
