First Baptist Church, Mount Pleasant, Michigan

Devotional: 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10

Today’s passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10

Helpful thoughts:

  • This passage is not holding up Paul, Silas, Timothy or any of the Thessalonian Christians as amazing people.  Paul is emphasizing the power and conviction that the Holy Spirit exercised.
    • In their sin and weakness, they were chosen by God.
    • In their affliction, God’s power and grace was put on display for all to see.
  • When these Thessalonians were saved, their lives changed.  They repented.
    • They no longer served false idols.  The served the true God.
    • They no longer trusted in other things to protect them or bail them out (HOPE).  They were waiting for Jesus.

Questions to consider:

  1. What is your testimony?  When did the Lord save you?  What would you be like without God’s grace in your life?
  2. Why is humility so fitting for every Christian?  Why does humility better communicate the truth of the Gospel and the power of God to others?  How does being proud of how “good” we are destroy our Gospel witness?
  3. How did Paul potentially refocus the expectation of the Lord’s deliverance for these believers?  From what kinds of things do we sometimes want to the Lord to deliver us?  What has Jesus delivered us from?  How is that deliverance even better?

Devotional: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3

Today’s passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3

Helpful thoughts:

  • You can read about the birth of the church in Thessalonica in Acts 17:1-9.
  • The word for “church” in verse 2 means, “called out ones”.  Paul was writing this letter to those who had been called out by God from among the people of Thessalonica.
  • Jesus is the Christ, our perfect substitute and savior.  And, Jesus is the Lord, our sovereign master.
  • Paul, Silas and Timothy prayed with thanksgiving for the church regularly, “without ceasing”. This prayer consisted of three things.
    • The works that resulted from the church’s faith.
    • The way the church labored sacrificially for one another.
    • The way the church maintained hope by placing it correctly in Jesus Christ.

Question to consider:

  1. How important are the titles of Jesus given their meaning?  He is the Lord, and our Christ!
  2. In what ways can you see growth in your life in the three areas mentioned in Paul’s prayers (Verse 3)?
  3. In what ways could you pray in thanksgiving to God for your church’s growth in these three areas?

Devotional: Psalm 72

Today’s passage: Psalm 72

Helpful thoughts:

  • This psalm is title “Of Solomon” but that doesn’t mean Solomon wrote it.  It seems pretty clear from the content that David wrote this psalm for/to Solomon. Though given it’s nature as a blessing to the king in Jerusalem, it also bears messianic themes and promises.
  • Giving justice to the poor and needy means to eliminate the oppressors that may be preventing them from pursuing growth and success.  (Verse 4)
  • The prayer of verse 15 was answered in 1 Kings 10:10.

Questions to consider:

  1. Where do you see messianic promises and prayers in this psalm?
  2. David prayed for his son (And for the promised King of Kings)!  Even if a person has gotten older and doesn’t feel like there’s much reason for them to still be on this earth, what massive ministry should they pursue?
  3. How could this psalm help us to pray for our governing leaders (Keeping in mind of course that the United States is not Israel)?  What leader do we ultimately hope to see ruling and reigning over all the earth?

Devotional: Psalm 71

Today’s passage: Psalm 71

Helpful thoughts:

  • Portent – An exceptional or wonderful person.
    • David was regarded highly by many, but he knew it was right to regard the Lord as higher than all.  God was David’s refuge and fortress, not the other way around.
  • David did not keep this knowledge of God’s glory to himself.  What was in his heart poured out of his mouth (Matthew 12:34).
  • David must have spoken of his trust in the Lord so much that even his enemies knew to only attack when they thought the Lord had forsaken him. (Verse 11)
    • They had come to know and believe the same thing David did.  God was his rock and fortress.

Questions to consider:

  1. Where did David place his confidence in God’s desire to deliver him?  Was David praying, “God deliver me, I’ve been so good so you owe me one”?  Would that kind of transaction be reason for praise?
  2. If/When people start to think highly of us, what must we remember?  Who are we?  Why is there any good in us?  Why would public opinion be such a dangerous counterfeit for doing all things for the glory of God as a living sacrifice and slave of righteousness (1 Corinthians 10:31, 2 Corinthians 5:9, Romans 12:1-3, Romans 6:15-23)?

Devotional: Psalm 70

Today’s passage: Psalm 70

Helpful thoughts:

  • Those who say “Aha, aha!” (In mockery) are headed toward shame.  Those who seek the Lord will rejoice and be glad.
  • One of the weapons of the enemy is this foolish verbal taunting.  Though David knew the truth, he did not combat the enemy with it.  He simply prayed to the Lord and rested in the truth.
  • In spite of all David’s wealth/power, in the face of adversity, he knew who was really in control.

Questions to consider:

  1. Why is it so much better to turn to God first than to attempt to devise our own plan against someone who is attacking us?
  2. Why does saying “Aha, aha!” right back at our adversaries (Even when we are right) not solve the problem?  What do they need more than to lose an argument?
  3. Can you rest in the truths of God’s promises and ask for deliverance from trials at the same time?  How does your faith in His power and also in His sovereignty use all things for your good encourage you to fervently pray and to be patient?

Devotional: Psalm 69:30-36

Today’s passage: Psalm 69:30-36

Helpful thoughts:

  • Micah 6:6-8
  • Only the humbled can appreciate the mercy and grace of God.  Pride insists on recognition of our acts.
    • Humility produces gladness/JOY.  Pride produces bitterness.
  • God will save Zion.  It will be possessed, inherited and dwelt in by His people.
    • Christ has risen from the dead.  The battle is already won.

Questions to consider:

  1. What is the incredible irony of the insistence of the proud to receive recognition for their acts?  What do all men deserve? (Romans 6:23)
  2. Why are we on the victorious side of this war?  What was accomplished?  Who accomplished it?  What remains to be done?
  3. How does our humility in the midst of all this truth give us greater joy than if we had to accomplish it all on our own?

Devotional: Psalm 69:1-29

Today’s passage: Psalm 69:1-29

Helpful thoughts:

  • Though David wrote this Psalm about himself, it points toward Christ.  This is a Messianic psalm and is referred to several times in the New Testament.
  • In this instance, David was innocent.  But, he was not entirely innocent.
    • Christ was entirely innocent.
      • There is injustice in this world, but Christ has overcome the world.
  • There is purpose in suffering.  And that purpose reaches far beyond just you and me.

Questions to consider:

  1. What elements of this psalm point us to Christ?  What parts sound familiar to you from the New Testament? (If you have a reference or study Bible, use it!)
  2. According to verse 7, for whose sake was David’s/Christ’s suffering?  How was God glorified by the cross?
  3. How could God be glorified in our suffering?
  4. Why is it right and best to turn to Him in times of injustice?

Devotional: Psalm 68:20-35

Today’s passage: Psalm 68:20-35

Helpful thoughts:

  • A reminder of the theme from the first 19 verses of this psalm: The Lord helps the helpless and He leads captives to freedom.
  • Our God is a God of salvation.
  • Our God is a God of justice.
  • Our God who is awesome, powerful, and a giver of strength, will be worshiped and served by the nations of the earth.

Questions to consider:

  1. Why is God not going to “strike your head”?  How is God your God of salvation?  Why are you no longer an enemy of the Lord?
  2. How does the promise of God’s victory and the global worship of the King of Kings give you rest from your anxiety/fear?  How can it help you to be bold as your share the Gospel with others?
  3. If someone isn’t interested in the Gospel, if they don’t want to hear or repent, what part are they going to play in this psalm?  How can we kindly but boldly communicate the truth of God’s command for all people everywhere to repent? (Acts 17:30)

Devotional: Psalm 68:1-19

Today’s passage: Psalm 68:1-19

Helpful thoughts:

  • The old adage “God helps those who help themselves” and Psalm 68 don’t go together.  “God helps the helpless” is a much more biblical statement.
  • Our adversaries may seem daunting to us.  But before God, they are like smoke in the wind or like wax in a fire.
  • Verse 18 is quoted in Ephesians 4:8.
    • All people are captive in their sin, and God the Son descended to purchase our freedom! (Romans 5:8)

Questions to consider:

  1. What keeps us from wanting to acknowledge that we are helpless?  In what ways are we helpless?  How do these truths increase your joy in the Lord?
  2. How would viewing those who want to hurt us or oppose us through the lens of the truth of Scripture allow us to actually seek to help them and show them kindness? (Romans 12:14-21)  What do they need the most?  Do they deserve to hear the Gospel any less than you or I did?
  3. How often does God “bear us up” (Verse 19)?  When does God let you out of his hand (John 10:27-29)?