Tuesday, September 11, 2018




                People have long thought about what their destinies might be. Some believe their destiny is fixed and nothing can be done to change it. Others view that they hold their destiny in their own hands. While God knows everything that will happen in our lives, we have free will to choose what to do or what not to do. One thing God has predetermined however, is His plan of redemption. In Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica, he wrote “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (5:9). What a wonderful destiny for those belonging to the Lord! Since we know we have such a destiny, what should we do about it? Paul gives a long list of commands for Christians to apply to their lives because of their destiny.
No less than nine of those commands have to do with our interaction with one another as Christians. Among those are to “exhort,” “build up,” “be in peace,” “encourage,” “help” and “be patient” with one another. As partakers of the same destiny, everything we say and do should always be to aid each other, not hinder.
We are also told to “recognize” and “esteem very highly in love” those who “diligently labor” among us as leaders of the church. Being an elder is a major responsibility. They are tasked with protecting, overseeing, and shepherding God’s sheep, to help them reach the wonderful destiny that awaits them. As such, they will give an account to God for the work they do (Hebrews 13:17).
Our destiny of eternal salvation is offered to us through the Holy word of God; therefore, Paul says not to “despise” or reject the word, but to “examine everything.” We should also be those of “good” character, abstaining from all forms of “evil,” not quenching the “Spirit” by living a sanctified life.   
Because we know our destiny, Paul reminds us to “rejoice always,” “pray without ceasing,” and to do God’s will by giving “thanks” for everything. Life is hard and can be painful in many ways at times. However, if we focus on the fact that God has already supplanted our destiny through Christ, then we can rejoice, pray, and always give thanks to the Lord. Live life in confidence, knowing that “whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him!”

Written by Jesse LeMay