This Week's Devotional: Your Faith Can Make an Impact

Week 2 - January 7-13, 2024

This week’s daily readings:

Reading, January 7-13th, 2024

This week’s devotional:

Your Faith Can Make an Impact
By Pastor Frank Albert

Scripture:

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power,
with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord,
for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.
Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us.
They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

— 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 (NIV)

Reflection:

What does my witness actually look like? What do I look like as trials wear me down, as life demands more than I can manage, when I am certain to be persecuted for my faith? Week after week, I hear the Gospel preached – how does it impact my life?

The Thessalonians had endured great trials for the sake of the Gospel. Paul specifically says that it was not just the message of Christ, but the power of Christ that showed up in their lives. Paul also says, “you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.”

The message of Christ, empowered by the Spirit, makes an impact. Rev. Len Cowan told me recently that his long life of faith had never seemed to have an impact on his two brothers who have always been resistant to the Gospel. Recently, he was talking with one brother who stopped suddenly and looked at Len and said, “God is always with you, isn’t he?” At their next meeting, when all three brothers were together, the first brother testified about this to the family, that “Len’s God is always with him.” Len’s life of faith had made its mark, and the Spirit caused his brother to testify to the evidence, the very presence of Jesus that is with Len!

Prayer:

God, I pray you would be manifest in my weakness. May I be known for my faith everywhere I go. Would you cause me to lie low, on my face if needed, to trust you in my weakness, for your glory, and for your Name to be manifested in my life. Remind me today that I am a child of the great God, and that your words do not return void. Help me to see the world as you do, and may my very existence speak of your grace to the people around me.