Letter to You

​Meditation
1 Thessalonians 1:2—We always thank God for all of you, remembering you constantly in our prayers.

I am writing a letter to you to encourage you in your faith.   There are four things that leap from my heart as I remember you. First, I want to pass on how faithful God is to me and what a huge difference He makes in my life.  My goal is to pass on His Word and to be a blessing to others as He is a blessing to me.  I love Him so much!  Second, please prepare for persecution.  Our nation is increasingly hostile to God’s standards and rebellious towards His will. The more we align ourselves with Him the more we can expect to suffer.  Third, never give up the pursuit of holiness—abstain from sin and treat others with love.  This is God’s will for us and He will reward us for such conduct.  Fourth, be highly encouraged with the truth that Jesus is coming back.  The anticipation of being united with Him ought to give us a joyful hope!  

I’m so thankful for you.  You are a reflection of God’s creative handiwork and a unique story of grace. Thinking of you brings a smile to my face.  To remember you in prayer is a privilege.

Incidentally, I patterned this letter from Paul’s missive to the Thessalonian believers.[1]  The four things above are the very points he made to his friends in Thessalonica.  And the last point ought to really charge our batteries.  Jesus’ return is mentioned in every chapter of Paul’s letter.  Reading his words one can sense how much he wanted the Thessalonians to look forward to seeing Jesus (1:10,2:19,3:13,4:15-18, 5:2,10,23).  Are you excited about coming into the presence of our awesome Savior?  What a fantastic day that will be!
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Paul thought so much about his brothers and sisters in Greece that he sent his good companion Timothy to check on them and encourage them (3:2).  Timothy brought back a great report on their faith and love (3:6).  No wonder he was thankful for them and remembered them in prayer.  How about you?  Who comes to your mind when you think of fellow believers?  Who do you pray for?  And how would you feel about writing a letter—a message from your heart to those you care about and cheer on to be faithful?  A letter from the heart is good medicine . . . something to think about . . . in reveration!
  
Inspiration
I have so fixed the habit in my mind that I never raise a glass of water to my lips without asking God’s blessing, never seal a letter without putting a word of prayer under the seal, never take a letter from post without a brief sending of my thoughts heavenward, never change my classes in the lecture room without a minute’s petition for the cadets who go out and for those who come in.—General Stonewall Jackson  
 
©2012 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)


[1]HCSB Study Bible ©2010 Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, TN  p 2065.