Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

MAY 4
Monday


CONNECTORS

READ:
1 Thess. 1:2-10
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From you the word of
the Lord has sounded
forth, not only in
Macedonia and Achaia,
but also in every place.
__1Thessalonians 1:8
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Marketing professionals have known for years that a product recommendation from a friend is among the most effective means of advertising. That's why many large companies recruit consumers who receive free samples of their products along with the encouragement to recommend them to family and friends. One major US corporation regularly sends coupons and products to 725,000 selected people called "connectors," who spread the word to others.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is more than a product. It is God's great plan for bringing people into a living, vital relationship with Him. But the gospel is conveyed most effectively by example and by word of mouth. Paul commended the Christians at Thessalonica for their exemplary living and their effective witness: "From you the word of the Lord has sounded forth....Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything" (1 Thess. 1:8). Because their lives had been radically changed (v.9), they found it impossible to keep silent about their faith.

A university professor who trains advertising professionals says, "It's human nature to talk about things that excite us." God's grace is all the incentive we need to recommend our Savior to a friend. __David McCasland
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```````````````I'll tell the world how Jesus saved me```````````````
``````````````And how He gave me a life brand new;```````````````
`````````````````And I know that if you trust Him`````````````````
```````````That all He gave me He'll give to you. __Fox`````````````
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If you want others to know what Christ will do for them,
tell them what He has done for you.

***********Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10********

2 We give thanks to God
always for you all, making
mention of you in our
prayers, 3 remembering
without ceasing your work
of faith, labor of love, and
patience of hope in our
Lord Jesus Christ in the
sight of our God and Father,

4 knowing, beloved
brethren, your election by
God. 5 For our gospel did
not come to you in word
only, but also in power, and
in the Holy Spirit and in
much assurance, as you
know what kind of men we
were among you for your
sake.

6 And you became
followers of us and of the
Lord, having received the
word in much affliction,
with joy of the Holy Spirit,

7 so that you became
examples to all in
Macedonia and Achaia who
believe. 8 For from you the
word of the Lord has
sounded forth, not only in
Macedonia and Achaia, but
also in every place. Your
faith toward God has gone
out, so that we do not need
to say anything. 9 For they
themselves declare
concerning us what manner
of entry we had to you, and
how you turned to God
from idols to serve the
living and true God, 10 and
to wait for His Son from
heaven, whom He raised
from the dead, even Jesus
who delivers us from the
wrath to come.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The triad of values--faith, hope, and love--that is sometimes seen
together in the New Testament (see also, 1 Cor. 13:13; 1 Thess. 5:8)
appears here with descriptors: faith is described as work, love as
labor, and hope as patience (v.3). Together they define the condition
of the heart that is devoted to Christ. __Bill Crowder