Passage: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
Main Point: God allows Satan to affect our lives, even though we are saved.
· Lesson? Paul and company had established the church in Thessalonica after great hardships and ill-treatment by those in the area who did not believe in Jesus. They were told not to share the gospel, beaten, and threatened with all sorts of legal and physical threats. They were mocked and verbally assaulted. Still some believed, and the church was born. However, after only a short time, Paul and company were forced to leave the church to fend for itself. This prompts our passage today, where Paul writes of his desire to return to them, yet he cannot because Satan is in the way.
· Thoughts on the devil? This teaches a couple of things about Satan.
1. Satan is allowed by God to affect our lives, even though we are saved. Sometimes our desires are not fulfilled as we would like because of the work of Satan. Evil as he is, the devil is still the instrument of God, and independent as he is, the devil still finds himself operating only within the greater Will of God. Don't get me wrong, the evil the devil does is NOT God's perfect will. It is NOT something God wishes would happen. However, it IS part of God's permissive will - something God allows to happen. The amazing thing is that God is still in control. God wanted one thing (for Paul to go to Athens) and Paul another (to go to Asia - Thessalonica and other churches in the region). Why God simply didn't just break into Paul's life and speak his direction like He did Moses at the burning bush, or even Paul on the road to Damascus, is unclear. What is clear is that God used the hindering of Satan to divert Paul to where He wanted him to go.
2. Satan tries to hinder the work of God. He is more than a mere agitator, he is an adversary. He opposes the things of God, and he opposes the people of God. Many of the obstacles you face in life are the work of the adversary, though not all. Some are the work of our own sin. Others are simply the laws of life in a fallen world. Nevertheless, in our attempts to do the will of God are often hindered by Satan, our adversary.
This can happen by preventing the gospel from being shared - as in the case of our verse today. Now, the infant believers in Thessalonica were sharing it, but Paul the mighty preacher was prohibited in this region. Sometimes we are prevented from sharing the gospel in a place or time because of the work of Satan - under the careful watch of God.
This can also happen by preventing the gospel from being received. This passage does not mention it, but Jesus tells us in the parable of the seeds and soils that there are some hearts who receive the gospel seed only to have it snatched away by birds (Satan) before they can take root. Too many times, the pagan ideas, superstitions, and darkened minds of the lost are found to be the tools of Satan to convince the audience that the gospel is somehow not adequate to save. Glimmers of Holy light of truth break through, only to be consumed again with a renewed return to thoughts of the old beliefs because Satan has planted such thoughts into their minds afresh.
Devotional:
I have been frustrated with much of the things I've faced in life. Sometimes doing God's work is extremely frustrating because of the work of Satan. Problem is, I've not recognized it for what it was. God, patiently and lovingly, was re-directing my efforts - even while I kicked and screamed (sometimes literally!) about it. It is a great comfort to me today to be reminded by the Lord that He knows what He is doing, and even the hindrances I face are allowed by Him for a reason. I don't even need to know what that reason is. I just need to stay faithful to the Lord, doing His Will wherever I am. The outcome is His to worry about.
Holler for Jesus,
Greg Yount
Check out my blogs:
Just-a-Thot - Devotional thoughts - http://justa-thot.blogspot.com
As I See It - Biblical perspectives on current events - http://asiseeit10.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for reading my post. Add your comments. They will be reviewed by me before being posted, so if you don't want them seen by everyone, just say so in your comment. Please be respectful; I don't post comments with profanity of any kind. Look forward to hearing from you.
Pastor Greg