Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 2:17a; Philippians 2:19-21
Tue, 29 March 2022

The Interests of Jesus Christ

Observation:

What does Paul’s description of his separation from the Thessalonians, “we were made orphans from you” (v.17a, NIV), tell us about him?

Deeper Reflection
PAUL’S FORCED DEPARTURE FROM THESSALONICA RESULTED in a separation from his new converts, which he describes as “we were made orphans from you” (v.17a, NIV). Paul uses the word, aporphanizō, which means “to cause to be an orphan”41, to describe the “extremely painful”42 separation. Paul felt a great sense of loss, like a child who has lost his parents. We need to capture Paul’s intense feelings, which shows how much the Thessalonians meant to him.The separation was unbearable even though it had been only “for a short time”. While being separated “in person”, for Paul, it was “not in heart”. Although they were separated physically, Paul carried the church in his heart and thoughts. It was out of sight, but never out of mind. In a similar vein, Paul said to the Philippians, “I hold you in my heart” (Phil 1:7), and to the Corinthians who had brought him many heartaches (cf. 2 Cor 2:1) he spoke of “the abundant love I have for you” (2 Cor 2:4) and the “earnest care I have for you” (2 Cor 8:16).These intense emotions of Paul tell us the importance of people to him. Disciplemaking is not just a task to be done or a mission to be accomplished. It is essentially about building people’s lives. Paul sees people as the “interests…of Jesus Christ,” and because of this we ought to be “genuinely concerned for the welfare” of people (Phil 2:19-21). How we sensitively feel for people and are consciously concerned about them is an indicator of the importance of people to us.
41 Johannes P. Louw & Eugene A. Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains, Second Edition, Volume 1 (UBS, 1988, 1989), 85.17 42 Gene L. Green, 150
Application:

What changes do I need to make in my feelings toward people?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for pastors and staff: To not neglect people in fulfilling their ministry tasks
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Sun, 31 December 2023

Sunday Journal

Past Week’s Review
  • What was my high point and my low point for the week?
  • What gave me life and what drained me?
  • How was the Spirit of God at work?
Reflect

What is one key thing that God said to me this week in light of what has happened?

Respond

What is one thing I need to do in light of what God is saying?
Commit in prayer.

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