20 Jan February 27th Daily Devotion

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

BY HIS POWER

2 Thessalonians 1:11 “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.”

“Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.’”  (John 6:29) After all, God sent Jesus into the world to save it. (John 3:16-17)  Isaiah wrote, “ . . . you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.”

In sinful arrogance, your natural nature wants to claim for itself who you are and take credit for all you do.  Think of how often you use the pronoun “I” when talking about your life and what has occurred in it.  However, the Holy Scriptures say, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for He grants sleep to those He loves.” (Psalm 127:1-2)

“He (the LORD) causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45) Faithful Job said of Yahweh, “Dominion and awe belong to God; He establishes order in the heights of heaven. Can His forces be numbered? On whom does His light not rise? How then can a mortal be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure? If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes, how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot— a human being, who is only a worm!” (Job 25:2-6)

Only “God can make you worthy of His calling, and by His power bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11) Thanks be to God who provides all you need to sustain your body, life, soul, and spirit.  Jesus has redeemed you and brought you into your heavenly Father’s kingdom. To Him be the glory.

Prayer:  By Your power, O LORD, work good in me and my life for Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

Holy Spirit, light divine, Shine upon this heart of mine;

Chase the shades of night away, Turn the darkness into day.

Let me see my Savior’s face, Let me all His beauties trace;

Show those glorious truths to me Which are only known to Thee.

Holy Spirit pow’r divine, Cleanse this guilty heart of mine;

In Thy mercy pity me, From sin’s bondage set me free.

Holy Spirit, joy divine, Cheer this saddened heart of mine;

Yield a sacred, settle peace, Let it grow and still increase.

Holy Spirit, all divine, Dwell within this heart of mine;

Cast down ev’ry idol throne, Reign supreme, and reign alone.

(LSB 496)