Don’t waste your investment.
How often do we take time to think about all the people God has sent into our lives to help us become what He created us to be? Do we ever consider all the labour that has gone into getting us to where we are today? God is always at work, Jesus is building His Church and He sends people out to do the work of ministry. We need to be grateful for all the investment that has been poured into us, and then take a decision as to what we’re going to do with it.
Scripture
1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 ESV Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, [2] and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, [3] that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. [4] For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. [5] For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
Bible Study Questions
From a human perspective, who began investing in Timothy from an early age? (2 Timothy 1:5-7)
Who continued this investment, and grew Timothy into an Elder in Jesus’ Church (Acts 16:1-51)
How did Paul employ Timothy in the Churches? (1 Corinthians 4:17, Philippians 2:19, 1 Thessalonians 3:2)
Timothy and Paul both invested much time and love into the Church at Thessalonian. The investments that God had made in Timothy were poured into the Church. What danger did suffering and persecution pose to these investments? (1 Thessalonians 3:3)
Whose afflictions was Paul talking about in 1 Thessalonians 3:4?
How could all of Paul, Timothy and the other disciple’s investment into the Church at Thessalonian have ended up being in vain (1 Thessalonians 3:5)
God calls us out of darkness into His Kingdom of light so that we can bring light to darkness and hope to a messy world. He has already invested so much in each of us throughout our lives. What is the ultimate example (who we are to imitate) of someone being sent into a mess to bring Glory to God and hope to the world? (Philippians 2:5-8)
Prayer
Dear Father God in Heaven, Thank You for Your unending love for us and for sending Your Son to reconcile us to You. Thank You for Your grace and Mercy extended by Him to give us forgiveness and new life in You. Please help us Lord not to sit on this investment, but to make the most of every opportunity to bring light and life through the ministry of Your Gospel wherever we go. Thank You that whatever mess we find ourselves in, we can be sure that you are using it to save lives and bring Glory to Your Name, please help us not to waste it Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Worship
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is hatred let me bring your love
Where there is injury, your pardon Lord
And where there is doubt true faith in You
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness only light
And where there's sadness ever joy
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul
Make me a channel of your peace
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
It is in giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we are born to eternal life
Oh, Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul
Make me a channel of your peace
Where there's despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness only light
And where there's sadness ever joy
Service
Do some research on the dung beetle. These wonderful little creatures are form the foundation of many ecosystems. The clean up disease causing mess and make it useful as a fertiliser and food source. Not only that but they actually use it to procreate and grow their own numbers. We are also called to deal with messy situations, to bring hope and joy, but also to disciple others and grow the Church. Who can you disciple into a serving role in the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ?