Verse
As for us, we can’t help but thank God for you, dear brothers and sisters loved by the Lord. We are always thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation — a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.
Thought
Salvation is connected to two central realities — first, we trust the truth about Jesus, and second, the Spirit of God comes into our lives, making us holy and making his home inside us. Paul uses it as confirmation to the Thessalonians to help remind them of their salvation. Jesus talks about these two central realities with Nicodemus as he explains the new birth (John 3:1-21). Those who responded to the first message after Jesus’ resurrection experienced these two realities (Acts 2:33-41). When these two realities are part of a person’s life, there is reason to rejoice and give thanks!
Prayer
O Father, my heart is pulled two different directions as I think about these two realities. First, I rejoice and give thanks for those I know who have confessed Christ, been baptized, and have received the Holy Spirit. Second, my heart aches for several that I love deeply that need to experience these realities. O dear Father, please use me to encourage the first group and to lead the others to know Jesus more completely. It is in the name of Jesus, my Savior and Lord, that I pray. Amen.
Devotional provided by Heartlight®
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