Daily Bible Study

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Day 147 1 Thessalonians 2:17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored to see your face with great desire. 18 Therefore, we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy. Have you wanted something so badly, but every time you tried to fulfill your desire, you were stopped and no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t do what you wanted? People have many dreams and desires for their lives. Some happen without much effort, while others seem impossible. Paul wanted to go to Thessalonica. He wanted to see the church in person. Yet Satan stopped him. He told them his great desire to see them because they were his crown of rejoicing, his glory and joy. Many times, as Christians, you want to do something to make an impact for God’s kingdom. Yet no matter how hard you try, nothing happens. It’s as though every door was locked. Did you pray and seek God for answers to what you wanted? Instead, the only thing you could do was to support someone else’s mission to do what you wanted. Be careful that you seek God in what He wants for you in your life. There was a time in my life when I wanted to be a missionary, to go to the field. I filled out the paperwork, I sought letters of recommendation, but the door never opened for me to pursue my dream. Like Paul, the way was blocked. Paul said Satan stopped him from going to the church in Thessalonica. It wasn’t God’s will for him to go. God had other plans for him. What is God’s will for your life? For Paul it was to send letters to the churches he planted from prison. He never stopped preaching the gospel. His method changed. From being there in person to writing letters of encouragement. Every letter he wrote to the churches showed his joy for the work they did. God changed my desire to go to the mission field, from being there in person to sending out Bible studies that go throughout the world. Instead of impacting one place, I’m impacting the world for the gospel of Jesus Christ. A closed door isn’t a closed opportunity. It is my joy to do these Bible studies. It is my crown of rejoicing when I get replies from God’s people on how much the studies bless them. My desire never changed. Only the method of what God wanted for me. What is your desire? Who is your crown of rejoicing? Who is your glory and joy? What are you doing for the gospel of Jesus Christ? Let’s pray: Father, my desire is to do Your will. Show me how I can impact Your kingdom with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let Your joy fill me as I do Your will. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 10 December 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.