20 Jan February 17th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT THESSALONICA

 HOLD ON TO WHAT IS GOOD

1 Thessalonians 5:21  “hold on to what is good”

Κατέχω, which is translated with the word “hold on” in NIV according to a Greek to English dictionary means “to continue to believe and practice.” (Louw-Nida) So, not only are you to “test the prophet’s message” (yesterday’s devotion), once you are convinced it is God’s message to you through the Prophet, hold on to it, continue to believe and practice it.

Why would the Holy Spirit inspire Paul to write the six words of today’s devotional verse?  The answer may not at first be obvious, but think for a minute how prone you are to hear something new that makes more sense to you than what you had heard previously.  Your human mind is like a sponge, soaking up the written and spoken words you read and hear on a daily basis.  It processes these words and messages and then makes a determination what it will retain and what it will discard.

Satan, ever aware of how your human mind works, bombards you daily with new thoughts and words through new messengers.  No wonder the Holy Spirit exhorts you to “test” those messengers and their words.  It is necessary for you to be reminded to continue to believe and practice the messages, the words, that God’s messengers speak and write for your spiritual blessing.

Yesterday’s devotional hymn, in the last verse was a prayer to God for the messengers He sends that he would, “Make them apostles, heralds of Your cross, Forth let them go to tell the world of grace.”  The message of God’s grace, His undeserved love, His goodness and kindness toward you through His Son Jesus is the one that is the same yesterday, today and forever because it alone is the one that has the power to save you from eternal death and convey to you God’s gift of eternal life.  Continue to believe and practice this changeless message.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, give me ears to hear and a heart to believe the true message of the Gospel which alone is God’s power for my salvation. Amen.

Speak, O Lord, Your servant listens,

Let Your Word to me come near; Newborn life and spirit give me,

Let each promise still my fear. Death’s dread pow’r,

its inward strife, Wars against Your Word of life;

Fill me, Lord, with love’s strong fervor That I cling to You forever!

Oh, what blessing to be near You And to listen to Your voice;

Let me ever love and hear You, Let Your Word be now my choice!

Many hardened sinners, Lord, Flee in terror at Your Word;

But to all who feel sin’s burden You give words of peace and pardon!

Lord, Your words are waters living When my thirsting spirit pleads.

Lord, Your words are bread life-giving;

On Your words my spirit feeds. Lord, Your words will be my light

Through death’s cold and dreary night;

Yes, they are my sword prevailing And my cup of joy unfailing!

As I pray, dear Jesus, hear me; Let Your words in me take root.

May Your Spirit e’er be near me That I bear abundant fruit.

May I daily sing Your praise, From my heart glad anthems raise,

Till my highest praise is given In the endless joy of heaven.

(LSB 589)