Saturday July 17, 2021

Saturday – July 17th – 2 Thessalonians 1:9-10     -----     
 
 1:9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed. 
 
 The Daily Walk Bible inspirational thought for today:
       KNOWLEDGE HUMBLES THE GREAT, ASTONISHES THE AVERAGE, AND PUFFS UP THE SMALL-MINDED.*
 
    Hello Saturday! While I typically don’t interject special personal dates into this blog, today is one of those days I need to share. Beth and I are celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary today. On a very hot, humid, and eventually rainy Friday evening in the Buffalo United Methodist Church we became husband and wife. What neither of us knew at that time was that in a handful of years God would transition us from a comfortable existence in our hometown to an adventurous life in pastoral ministry that has taken us to three awesome churches over the last 34 years. Today is also special in our family as one year ago today our granddaughter Olivia was officially adopted into our son’s family. If I played the lottery, 17 would most certainly be the red Powerball number.
 
    In our pick verses for today Paul shifts his focus from the joy of salvation to the horror of those who reject Jesus as their savior. The reality of the opposite of everlasting life is being barred from the presence of the Lord. This is not annihilation, but a final, permanent, and irrevocable separation from God. In other words, unbelievers will spend their eternity outside and away from the presence of God and far from the blessings of Heaven. Paul reminds us that as believers we are children of God. And as children of God if we suffer with Him, we will also be glorified together with God (Romans 8:17). Christ’s saving of believers is a work to be celebrated and praised. What a glorious contrast with the fate of unbelievers. And what a great responsibility for believers to be busy sharing the Good News of the Gospel of hope to others.

Blessings
  Pastor Jim
Sunday – July 18th – 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

*Tyndale. The Daily Walk Bible NLT (Daily Walk: Full Size) (Kindle Locations 37169-37170). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition
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