1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Studyheadquarters dot com. 3 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:17,240 Speaker 1: You're listening to daily devotions with Pastor John. I'm John Stangey, 4 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: and today's devotion is inspired by Second Thessalonians, Chapter one, 5 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: verse three, which says, we ought always to give thanks 6 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: to God for you brothers, as is right, because your 7 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:34,480 Speaker 1: faith is growing abundantly and the love of every one 8 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: of you for one another is increasing. It is much 9 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: easier to focus on the negative than it is to 10 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 1: notice the positive. It's easier to complain about bad weather, 11 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: rude treatment, physical pain, and long waiting times than it 12 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: is to be thankful for the many blessings we receive 13 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: through Jesus every single day. Christ wants us to be 14 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: greatful people. One of the greatest blessings Christ has given 15 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: us is the union we have with our brothers and 16 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: sisters in the faith. We have been united together with 17 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: them in Christ. We are family, and the Holy Spirit 18 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: spiritually equips us to make important investments in each other's 19 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 1: lives for the purpose of building one another up. For 20 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 1: these reasons and many more, we should always give thanks 21 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: to the Lord for his people and we should likewise 22 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:36,319 Speaker 1: be thankful for the spiritual growth the Lord is producing 23 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,959 Speaker 1: in our lives through them. What kind of difference do 24 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 1: you think it might make in the life of another 25 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: brother or sister in Christ if you took time today 26 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: to tell them just how thankful you were for their 27 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:58,200 Speaker 1: presence in your life. Let's pray. Lord, we thank you 28 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 1: for your word, and we thank you for the privilege 29 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: that it is to be able to read it together 30 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: today and to learn from it. And Lord, we're grateful 31 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 1: for the words of the apostle Paul, as you inspired 32 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: him to write the Book of Second Thessalonians, and we 33 00:02:12,440 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: could see that one of the things he was emphasizing 34 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 1: in these opening verses of that book was the thankfulness 35 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: he had for the family you had created through our 36 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 1: common faith in your son, Jesus Christ. We are united 37 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: as family. Your spirit unites us as one, and as 38 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: Paul expresses in this portion of scripture, we should always 39 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: give thanks to you, Lord for the people that you've 40 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 1: blessed us with in our lives. Lord, you've blessed us 41 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 1: with people who make all kinds of investments in us 42 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:47,119 Speaker 1: as your spirit empowers them to do so, and as 43 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 1: a result, our walk with You grows and it deepens, 44 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 1: and our faith in you strengthens. So we're grateful for 45 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 1: these people that you've placed in our lives that are 46 00:02:56,000 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 1: helping our faith develop and mature. And likewise, Lord, we 47 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: request the privilege to make that kind of investment in 48 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 1: the lives of others. For your glory, You've equipped us, 49 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: you've called us, you enable us, and you provide opportunities 50 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 1: for us to make those kinds of investments in others. 51 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 1: So we pray that we would take advantage of all 52 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: that you've orchestrated and all that you're facilitating, and that 53 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 1: our brothers and sisters in Christ would be built up 54 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 1: through the work you're doing in us, and that we 55 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: would be built up through the work that you're doing 56 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: through them. Thank you, Lord for these reminders from your word, 57 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 1: and thank you for your presence with us today. We 58 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,000 Speaker 1: commit this day to your care, and we pray this 59 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: all in Jesus' name. Amen.