Chester ARP Devotional Podcast

God will judge unrighteousness in due time. At present, we are walking with him in faith and trusting him to accomplish all things for his glory and grace. 

As we grow in our faith, we become more loving church members. Our faith works itself out in our love for one another. 

Paul concludes his first letter to the Church of Thessalonica with practical wisdom and instruction. We'd do well to follow it. 

We must remain ready for Christ's return because we do not know when he will return. He could come at any moment. We must not be caught off guard. 

We don't grieve as those who have no hope. Rather, we grieve in the Lord, knowing we will see our loved ones again and we will always be united with our Lord. 

Paul instructs us to remain sexually pure and to mind our own business as we strive to live for the glory and majesty of God. It's our Christian duty to follow these instructions. 

Paul told the church in Thessalonica that she encouraged him and his companions as she walked steadfastly with the Lord. We need to hear a similar word of affirmation today. Let us walk together in grace, building one another up, worshipping our God, and glorying in his name. 

Christians are persecuted by those who hate God and his people. Paul gives us the proper perspective for understanding this persecution. Thankfully, our God will pour out His wrath upon those who hate him and his people. 

Paul and his companions sought to please God with their gospel ministry, and God saw fit to bless their efforts. We must have the same mindset while proclaiming Christ to the lost world. 

When our lives are transformed by the gospel, we give reason for folks to thank God for his work in our lives. We also testify to his power to transform us in Christ for his glory. 

Paul concluded his letter to the Colossians with some final instructions for them to follow. We'd do well to follow his advice as well. He also ensured they knew he wrote the letter. 

How are we to live for Christ every day? Great question. Paul answers it at the end of Col. 3. Relationally, we glorify God by following his prescribed order. 

We are to put on the characteristics of God as we put away our old selves. We have to learn to embody the love of God. 

If we are new in Christ Jesus, then we are to put away the desires of the old self and its flesh. Paul gives specific instructions for how to do that in these verses. 

If we are raised with Christ in faith, then we are to seek the things of God by setting our minds on the things of heaven, not earth. 

As Christians, we must learn to forego our faith and reliance upon manmade religious regulations and traditions and rely upon the power of Jesus in us. We'll never be victorious trying to overcome in our own strength. 

Don't be held captive by impressive philosophy, deceitful signs, or human traditions. Rather, walk in the triumph of Christ by remaining steadfast in the simple biblical gospel.  

We are to walk in Christ by faith and with thanksgiving for the great salvation he has worked in our lives. 

Paul was willing to endure all things so that the Colossians would know the mystery of Christ in them. Are we willing to do the same? 

Jesus is the supreme Lord of all creation. We will inherit eternity with him if we maintain the faith we heard in the gospel. Don't walk away. 

We can follow Paul's example when we don't know how to pray for one another. He prayed a deeply spiritual and yet practical prayer for the Church in Colossae. 

Paul was thankful for the Colossians' faith in Christ and love for one another. We should also be thankful for the same things in the lives of other believers. 

We are thankful for those who partner with us in the gospel ministry. It is a great blessing to partner in the Lord for the advancement of his kingdom. 

We do all things through Christ, who strengthens us in his grace. 

We are to rejoice in the Lord always, and let our reasonable faith be known to all as we resist anxious worry by petitioning God with thanksgiving. Focus on the things of God and find his peace in this life.

We need to find faithful Christians to imitate as we follow Christ. We can't do it alone, and we shouldn't try. Follow those who are following Christ and growing in him. 

We are to find our identity in Christ alone. He is the one who reconciled us to God. He is the one who puts our lives back together. 

We are to put no confidence in any human works of righteousness. We put all our confidence in the finished work of Christ. 

Paul reveals his human side to the Philippians and us in the middle of his letter. His affection for Timothy and Epaphroditus personally connects to us. 

Paul challenged us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, meaning we should stop being unserious and silly in our Christian lives. We are to serve the Lord with pleasure, without grumbling or complaining. 

We are to elevate others when following Christ's example humbly. He became a servant to the point of death. We are to follow him on this path of self-denial through his power and grace. 

Paul was convinced that to live is Christ and to die is gain. That's 100% true. If we live, we do so in Christ for his glory and enjoy his benefits. If we die, we go to be with him. Both are gains for us. 

Everything that happened to Paul happened to advance God's glory in Christ. We should understand that this is true in our lives as well. 

The Lord will complete the work he began in each of us on the day of Christ. It will be a wonderful day! 

Paul wanted to give the Ephesians a report about his work to encourage them. He loved them, and they loved him. The report did them all well. 

Stand firm in the strength of the Lord's might while putting on the armor of God to extinguish the flaming darts of the Devil. We must rely upon the Lord's strength. 

We are to obey our leaders and those in authority over us genuinely as we are doing it unto the Lord. Paul wrote of children obeying parents, parents not provoking children, servants obeying masters, and masters being good to servants. 

Paul instructs the husbands and wives on how to live with one another as Christians in this passage. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves his Church, and wives are to submit to their husbands as we submit to Christ. 

We are to imitate God as a child imitates his father. To do that, we are to put away the things of the world and pursue the things of Christ's kingdom. 

We are to walk in love for the glory of God in Christ, following him in faith. 

We are called to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus Christ by walking in humility, gentleness, with patience, forgiveness, and unity. We are to build one another up in love to maturity in Christ. 

Paul concluded Ephesians 3 with a benediction to the glory of God's power, which can accomplish more than we can ask or imagine. He also prayed that we would grow in our capacity to comprehend the immeasurable greatness of God. 

God reveals his manifold wisdom for the restoration of the world through his work in the Church. He gives us the privilege of being a part of his plan by grace in Christ. 

We are united to one another in the Lord Jesus Christ. All those who have been made alive in Christ through faith are united in Jesus. This is a lovely mystery. 

All of those who have trusted Christ are united in him. There is no distinction between them. Nothing matters except faith in Jesus. 

We were dead in our trespasses and sins following the prince of this world and walking according to the flesh. But God, being rich and merciful, made us alive in Christ. He saved by grace through faith. 

Paul thanked God for the Ephesian Christians because of their great love for God and all the saints. He prayed God would give them knowledge and wisdom. 

Our Lord has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places. We thank and praise him for his goodness to us. 

God chose to bless his people simply because he loves us. Period. There is nothing in us that made God love and save us from our sins. 

Nothing we do to earn the righteousness of God matters. The only thing that matters is the new creation of the Holy Spirit works in our lives. 

Bearing one another's burdens is one of Paul's final instructions to the congregation in Galatia. We are to encourage one another in the Lord and assist one another in the work of the Lord.