20 Jan February 10th Daily Devotion

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

STRIVE TO DO GOOD TO EVERYONE

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 “And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.”

Ephesians 2:10 says that God has made you and in Christ Jesus created you to do good works.    Today’s devotional verses exhort you to “strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.” While the Old Adam urges you to do all you can for the benefit of yourself, God has placed you as a Christian where you are to do what you do for the benefit of those around you.

What is it that God wants you to do for others?  Jesus answers in Matthew chapter 25, God wants you to feed the hungry, quench the thirst of the thirsty, invite the stranger into your home, provide clothing for those who are in need, and care for the sick.  Jesus says a couple of verses later that as you stand before Him as judge on the last day He will then say to you, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Galatians 5:13-14 says, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Yes, giving thought to the needs of others before your own, serving and caring for them with love is the Royal Law you read about in a recent devotion.

Selfishness, self-centeredness, looking out only for yourself and your own needs are temptations from the evil ones.  Caring for and loving your neighbor are actions to flow from the love you have received from God.  Loving others in the name of Jesus is your witness to them of Him.  Jesus said toward the beginning of His Sermon On the Mount, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, fill me with Your love to in turn share it with those with whom I come in contact daily in my life for their good and to Your glory.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Son of God, eternal Savior, Source of life and truth and grace,

Word made flesh, whose birth among us,

Hallows all our human race, You our Head who, throned in glory,

For Your own will ever plead; Fill us with Your love and pity,

Heal our wrongs and help our need.

As You, Lord, have lived for others, So may we for others live.

Freely have Your gifts been granted; Freely may Your servants give.

Yours the gold and Yours the silver,

Yours the wealth of land and sea; We but stewards of Your bounty

Held in solemn trust will be.

Come, O Christ, and reign among us,

King of love and Prince of Peace;

Hush the storm of strife and passion, Bid its cruel discords cease.  By Your patient years of toiling, By Your silent hours of pain,

Quench our fevered thirst of pleasure, Stem our selfish greed of gain.

Son of God, eternal Savior, Source of life and truth and grace,

Word made flesh, whose birth among us

Hallows all our human race: By Your praying,

by Your willing  That Your people should be one,

Grant, O grant our hope’s fruition: Here on earth Your will be done.

(LSB 842)