Agape Devotions

READ : 1 Timothy 3:14-4:16 Verses chosen for meditation: 1 Timothy 4:11-12 11   Command and teach these things. 12  Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. REFLECT These verses show the huge responsibility that Timothy was being called to, and the difficulties that plague him. V11 sums up the instructions that Paul needed Timothy to pass on to the churches of Ephesus. However, these instructions might not be received well, due to Timothy’s young age (probably thirties). Timothy was called to Christian leadership beyond his years, and some do not take it kindly. Perhaps there were some jealous of his promotion over their heads. Others may simply look down on him purely based on age. How should young Christian leaders react in such situations, so that people would not despise their youth and reject their ministry? Paul gave guidance in v12. He called upon Timothy...

  Read  1 Timothy 3:1-13 Verses chosen for devotion: “He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” ‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Reflect The passage of 1 Timothy 3:1-13 highlights all the characters and qualities Paul instructed that a church leader should possess. Among them are being faithful to spouse, having the ability to teach, being gentle and not greedy. Paul also said that a church leader should know how to manage his or her household well to be able to care for the church well. This instruction is of no surprise as even in politics politicians are expected to manage their household well and they are constantly scrutinised over their family affairs, and are closely watched. After all if a politician cannot manage his or her own family how can he or she be entrusted with the leadership of a country? Relate As a church leader I ...

Read 1 Timothy 2 Verses chosen for meditation: 1 Timothy 2: 1-4, 8, 9-10 ESV: 1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;  9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. Reflect What do you think form the focus and format of a worship service? Why is prayer important in a worship service? What are some of the things to be observed in the areas of propr...

 TEXT TO REFLECT I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.  1 TIMOTHY 1:12-16 REFLECT One would have thought that someone like Paul would be impossible to change. Paul described himself as the foremost of sinners, the worst of all sinners. And indeed he was. Unlike common ‘criminals’ who often knew that they were wrong but sinned nonetheless, Paul hones...

Catch up on your readings day

Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:18 Verses chosen for reflection 6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Reflect In the passage we just read, Paul talked about G...

READ : 2 Thess. 2:1-12 focussing on vv.6-8 REFLECT : The Man of lawlessness cannot be revealed until some restraining power is taken out of the way. What is that restraining power? Paul says,  You know what it is.  There is no need to tell them; they already know! How did they know? Paul had probably told them when he was with them. But even if he had not, I feel they would have known. Every true Christian knows what it is that restrains evil. Even today, I could ask any young Christian the question,  Since Christ has come into your life, have you found anything that restrains evil in you?  From long experience I know that the answer would be,  Oh, yes, everything is different. I no longer have the same desires now that the Lord has come into my life.  This answer conveys that the Holy Spirit has come in; God himself dwells within him. In the letter to the Galatians, Paul teaches us that the desires of our flesh are opposed to the desires of the Spirit, and...

READ : 2 Thessalonians 1 Verses chosen for meditation: 2 Thessalonians 1:5-6 5  This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering —  6  since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you…  REFLECT A topic that dominated 2 Thessalonians was Jesus’ 2 nd coming. The church was disturbed by rumours that the last days had already arrived. Part of the controversy traces back to the end of 1 Thessalonians, where Paul gave direct answers to questions regarding the afterlife. Some believers might have misinterpreted Paul’s words, and thought that the day of the Lord had arrived and that they were suffering under that tribulation. Paul writes this letter mainly to correct this misconception. He made it clear that the persecution the Thessalonians were suffering was not part of the day of the Lord. Rather, in v5, Paul s...

READ : I Thessalonians 5:12-28. Verses chosen for meditation: I Thessalonians 5: 14, 16-18. 14  And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.  16  Rejoice always,  17  pray without ceasing,  18  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.    REFLECT First responders show dedication and courage daily by being on the front lines when any disaster occurs. In the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York City in 2001 when thousands of people were killed or injured, more than four hundred emergency workers also lost their lives. In honour of first responders, the US Senate designated September 12 as the “National Day of Encouragement.” While it may seem unique that a government would declare a National Day of Encouragement, the Apostle Paul certainly thought this was needed for the growth of a ...

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 Verses chosen for meditation: I Thessalonians 4:13, 16-18; 5: 6, 8 - 11 ESV: 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are ...

TEXT TO REFLECT ON But we urge you, brothers… to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs… 1 THESSALONIANS 4:10, 11 REFLECT The Church in Thessalonica started as a gathering of Greek converts under difficult circumstances. Paul and Silas had gone to preach the Gospel in Thessalonica. The first converts were Greeks and leading women of the city. Luke 17 records that the Jews became jealous, presumably over the Apostles’ popularity, and sought to chase Paul and Silas out of the city. But the Jews were not content with driving the Apostles out of the city. They continued to pursue them in other cities. The few Christians in Thessalonica undoubtedly had a difficult time, and Paul was constantly worrying that they would return to their old ways. Surprisingly for him, the Christians remained steadfast and the church grew.  In his first letter to the Church in Thessalonica, Paul wrote about how both the disciples as well as the Christians in Thessalonica had shared suffer...

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 No devotional today (Sunday)

Read:1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 Verses chosen for reflection 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. Reflect Even among the faithful in Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul saw the need to explain their ministry in the Gospel. This was due to the many religious leaders and false prophets who were peddling various alternatives to the ...

READ : 1 Thess. 1 focussing on vv.4-8  REFLECT : This is how people are changed: idols are cast aside, and a new life begins! It begins with God's love. The world at large conceives of God as perpetually angry with them. But God does not look at our lost race that way. God sees us as victims, deluded and deceived. Alluring philosophies have throttled our love and captivated and gripped our minds. Almost in total ignorance, we pursue things that destroy us. Although we never intended to do so, most of us have already seriously messed up our lives. But then we learn the incredible truth that God loves us, that he gave his only Son for us. It is in the cross that we see the love of God displayed. Paul so states in Romans:  But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us  (Romans 5:8). It is also in the Scripture that we learn that he has chosen us. How do you know that God chose you? The answer is, you begin to be drawn towar...