Monday, March 24, 2025

          Paul remains the greatest church planter in Christian history.  We can read about his work in his New Testament letters that the Holy Spirit inspired him to write.  These letters often speak to both the joys and trials that believers face—and both are to be expected and even experienced in our walk with the Lord.  Joy comes from the Lord but daily and challenging trials can often rival that great joy.  By contrast, joy in Christ can often lessen and minimize the sting of trials that we face.  Paul spoke about maintaining joy and balancing trials in his second letter to the Thessalonian Christians.  He knew firsthand what he was writing—for he had lived within the tension of joy and trials for so much of his life as a preacher, missionary and church planter.  He wrote, “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring” (2 Thessalonians 1:3-4).  These two verses offer at least four lessons for us to see.  And these lessons can bear influence on our lives today.
            First, we learn to be thankful.  Never minimize or forget about thanksgiving.  Paul often wrote about gratitude in his letters.  There is always some reason to be thankful.  And usually, we do not have to look very far or very hard to discover those reasons.  Remaining thankful can help to lessen or minimize trials.  If we look carefully with eyes of faith, we can even see that the trials themselves bring blessings that we might not have experienced otherwise.  It might be helpful in the middle of a trial to write down ten blessings that you are currently experiencing and enjoying.  Develop a daily habit of gratitude for what God is doing in your life.    
            Second, we hold on to our faith.  We place our unreserved trust in God and the story that He is writing in and for our lives.  God is good.  God loves us.  God provides for us.  These three simple truths are important to remember each day.  Often, in the fog of trials, we can lose sight of these simple truths or begin to doubt them.  Coming back to the basics is often important.  Good basketball coaches and teams often talk about the importance of playing good defense and holding on to the ball even when shots might not be falling.  And often the teams that enjoy the most success are the ones that consistently do the simple things most decisively.  Never lose sight of the Lord.  Never let go of the Lord.  One of the serpent’s strategies in the Garden was to persuade Adam and Eve to doubt God—His word, character and motives.  Let your faith guide you to hold on to the simple things that matter.
            Third, we practice perseverance.  Battles will come—and quite often more intensely and more frequently than we might wish or desire.  We persevere through these battles by reading the Bible, prayer, worship, the support of other believers and believing that God can and does work all things for the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to His purposes (see Romans 8:28).  Perseverance requires spiritual muscles, agility and stamina.  We will never develop those things by accident.  We have to get into God’s Word and make walking with the Lord our first priority every single day! Do not let the enemy discourage you or distract you from building your spiritual stamina and endurance.  Build a faith that looks like a mighty Redwood or Oak tree.  Too often we look like saplings with roots that reach barely below the surface.  If you are not happy with your spiritual roots, then YOU are the one who can change that reality. 
            And finally, draw strength from other believers.  Invest in other believers and let those same believers invest in you.  Share burdens and be quick to bear the burdens of others.  Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”  Paul knew he could count on Silas and Timothy for example.  Peter, James and John often are linked together.  In the Old Testament, David had his mighty men.  Our faith and perseverance rise and deepen when we lean on others and draw strength from one another.  Others can often sharpen our spiritual vision and insight in ways that we have missed. 
            Remember you can worship and share our Sunday worship any time at YouTube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.  Remember we have a goal to extend 1000 invitations to worship at Easter at First Baptist.  We have some cards you can share with others.  Contact our office to get some cards to use as a way to invite others to worship and to share the gospel message.  Have a great Monday!