one step: 1 Thessalonians 1.3

For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

The conversion of those in Thessalonica was no small thing.* Their conversion included three steps:*

1. turning to God

2. turning away from idols

3. waiting for His Son from heaven.

These steps remind us that turning to God involves recognizing that He is true and living.* This was in stark contrast to the prevailing idol-worshiping culture that surrounded the Christians of Thessalonica.* To confess that God was true and living was to say that all others were false and dead.* This flew in the face of a polytheistic, pagan culture that worshipped many “gods".”

Furthermore, there is no turning from idols without turning toward God.* Both are necessary, and both occurred in the Church of Thessalonica. The Church in Thessalonica was not mixing their belief in God with other beliefs, nor were they attempting to make God just another one of their deities to worship.* They were forsaking all other idols and ways of thinking to follow God.*

Lastly, their conversion demonstrates a following of Jesus that impacts today and tomorrow.* Meaning, their faith was not only believed to impact their future, but it influenced their day-to-day life.* Not only did it influence their day-to-day life, but they stood on the reality of their one-day-returning King.*

These powerful points demonstrate for us how to posture ourselves in our culture that calls us to serve (worship) so many other people and things. but there is more to this story that we must not miss.

The decision to follow God and God alone was not a private one. Within Thessalonica, unlike our society today, faith wasn’t seen as a personal matter that could be avoided in daily conversations and life. In the time of Paul, faith in Thessalonica was a social and political construct.* One’s faith determined the events one attended as a part of a family that was a part of the Thessalonian community.* To abandon idol worship for the worship of the One True God was to remove oneself from family and social activities.* In addition, political power and influence was greatly influenced by what idols one served.* To give up religious attachments could equate to giving up social and political status.* Scholars believe that this kind of detachment from society and attachment to God could have been the source of the persecution that they endured.*

What does this mean for us? Following Christ is a call to abandon all else. Christ is not a dish on a plate of possibilities; He is the One True God. All else should be given up with the understanding that He calls us to live for Him today, and that He will return for us in some tomorrow. In our society, the pressure exists to accept all beliefs and all ways of thinking as equal. In our world today, it’s easy to feel the pressure to allow faith to be for “one day when I die,” or for “one day when Jesus returns.” God calls us to a “today” faith with “tomorrow” perspective that is 100% sold out for Him.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to stop serving anything other than God. Perhaps today God wants you to graduate from a religion that is only socially or politically minded. Maybe today God wants you to wait for the return of Christ with an expectancy that leads to holy living today.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Holmes, M. (1998). 1 and 2 Thessalonians (p. 52). Zondervan Publishing House.
Shogren, G. S. (2012). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (pp. 72–75). Zondervan.
Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (pp. 105–108). W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
Kim, S., & Bruce, F. F. (2023). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (D. B. Capes, Ed.; Second Edition, Vol. 45, pp. 168–170). Zondervan Academic.
Morris, L. (1984). 1 and 2 Thessalonians: An introduction and commentary (Vol. 13, pp. 47–48). InterVarsity Press.
Beale, G. K. (2003). 1–2 Thessalonians (pp. 60–62). InterVarsity Press.
Weima, J. A. D. (2014). Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1–2 Thessalonians (R. W. Yarbrough & R. H. Stein, Eds.; pp. 106–109). Baker Academic.

one step: water break

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Psalm 46:10

The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you.

---

Psalm 46:10 invites us to be still, cease striving, or stop. The question is, “stop what?”

We live in a busy society, yes, but the psalmist did not write this psalm to a busy people. If not written to especially busy people, who then does the psalmist write?

While being still or engaging in silence can serve as spiritual practices that may dislodge us from a bewildering pace of rush and anxiety long enough to hear God and be ministered to by Him, this is not exactly what the writer had in mind.* The writer of this psalm spoke in Psalm 46 to a superpower nation intent upon establishing their own peace through war.*

God had other plans. While countries attempt to become sovereign over others, God establishes Himself as Sovereign over all.* Through His mighty acts, God will transform all nations into instruments of His own exaltation.*

What will it take for God to establish Himself above all? The nation in question had to stop trying to elevate themself.*

In this life, we can feel that we must work, manipulate, and win our way into the place of God. There can be many reasons and ways that we do this, but sometimes we find ourselves attempting to exalt ourselves over others because we are seeking safety, peace, stability, or “the good life.” The issue with this is that we cannot give ourselves safety, peace, stability, or “the good life.” When we attempt to, we are trying to replace God because we are trying to provide for ourselves only what God can provide.

God says, “Stop it. I am God, I will not elevate you, but I will elevate myself above all. Want to see it? Just stop your efforts to win. I win.”

The best thing about God winning is that when He wins we win too.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to pull in a deep breath and stop it. Perhaps today God would have you stop striving to be enough, do enough, or feel enough. Maybe today God doesn’t want you to win the battle in your life, but He wants you to see that He is the winner in your story... and that makes you a winner too.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Goldingay, J. (2006). Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Psalms 42–89 (T. Longman III, Ed.; Vol. 2, pp. 72–73). Baker Academic.
Wilson, G. H. (2002). Psalms (Vol. 1, pp. 718–719). Zondervan.
VanGemeren, W. A. (2008). Psalms. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms (Revised Edition) (Vol. 5, p. 407). Zondervan.
Craigie, P. C. (2004). Psalms 1–50 (2nd ed., Vol. 19, p. 345). Nelson Reference & Electronic.

one step: 1 Thessalonians 1.2

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5

The Gospel is the good news that Jesus, the completely unique and only Son of God came into this world to take away the sin of the world by living a perfect life, dying on the cross in our place and for the payment of our sin, and rose again to newness of life on the third day. This great act, being good news for our relationship with God was ultimately good news for all of creation as it ushered in God’s Kingdom here on Earth as it is in Heaven. It initiated the return of the Kingdom reign and rules of God, allowing us to begin to escape our slavery to law and sin.

This Gospel consists of great words, but it’s more than that, isn’t it? The Gospel isn’t just words to be spoken; it’s not just a compelling story capable of evoking emotions from the hearer. No, the Gospel is more than that: the Gospel is power.*

The power of the Gospel clued Paul to the genuine salvation and faith of the Church in Thessalonica.* Interestingly, while the Church in Thessalonica withstood persecution and held onto their faith, hope, and love, the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives through the evidence of their growth and response to the Gospel is what showed Paul that their salvation was true.* The Gospel is power and it transforms.

In discussing these couple of verses, many engage in debate as to the nature of the election to which Paul refers.* Paul’s intent in these verses, however, is not to debate election.* His intent is to express gratitude to God for and encourage the embattled church in Thessalonica.* Paul is excited that the Gospel he preached was received in such a way that miracles happened and conviction came!* The nature of their reception of the Gospel was evidence of their election by God.*

Paul reminds us with his words that salvation is the work of God in our lives; we cannot make salvation happen, though we can see its fruit in our lives.*

As a reminder, John 3:16 (emphasis added) tells us,

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

2 Peter 3:9 (emphasis added) also states,

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

God selected everyone. He elected you and He elected me. We must then choose to submit to Jesus unto salvation. How do we know if our choice was genuine? We will see fruit: the power of the Holy Spirit at work and His gentle conviction.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to celebrate the convicting work and displays of the Holy Spirit’s power in your life. Perhaps today there is a group of Jesus-followers that you should encourage. Maybe today God wants to remind you that He chose you and that your salvation depends solely upon Him.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Holmes, M. (1998). 1 and 2 Thessalonians (pp. 48–50). Zondervan Publishing House.
Shogren, G. S. (2012). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (pp. 61–66). Zondervan.
Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (pp. 91–97). W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
Kim, S., & Bruce, F. F. (2023). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (D. B. Capes, Ed.; Second Edition, Vol. 45, pp. 148–156). Zondervan Academic.
Morris, L. (1984). 1 and 2 Thessalonians: An introduction and commentary (Vol. 13, pp. 45–46). InterVarsity Press.
Beale, G. K. (2003). 1–2 Thessalonians (pp. 49–53). InterVarsity Press.
Weima, J. A. D. (2014). Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1–2 Thessalonians (R. W. Yarbrough & R. H. Stein, Eds.; pp. 89–92). Baker Academic.

one step: 1 Thessalonians 1.1

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

What difficulties have your friends been through? What are they going through now? Life is hard, as we all know, and it’s easy to miss that there are a lot of amazing people out there.

The church in Thessalonica during the time of Paul was riddled with persecution.* The largest and most important city of Macedonia at the time, its diverse population consisted of Greeks, Romans, Jews, and Christians.* This diverse population likely created a diverse church.* Though the exact persecutions and their sources are unknown, we do know from context that they endured persecution, ostracism, and hardship.* Perhaps their persecution came from the communities they left to follow Christ (Greek, Roman, Jewish communities).

How did the church in Thessalonica respond? They responded by representing Christ well. Though times were hard for the church, Paul noticed that they lived lives of the faith, hope, and love.* Faith, hope, and love appear many times in Scripture (Romans 5:2–5; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Galatians 5:5–6; Colossians 1:4–5; Hebrews 6:10–12; 10:22–24; 1 Peter 1:21–22).* Some argue that the qualities of faith, hope, and love are the qualities of a good Christian.*

Paul states in this verse that he prays constantly for them and thanks God for them. He doesn’t stop with prayer, however. Paul goes a step further and tells them how he feels by writing this letter!

When was the last time you prayed continuously (consistently and passionately) for a friend, giving thanks to God for them? When was the last time you told a friend how you really feel about them?

I recently had a friend come to my home for a visit. They looked me in the eye and told me the good qualities of the Lord that they saw in me. I needed to hear it. I needed the encouragement. Sure, I need all the prayers that my friend prays without me knowing about them, but knowing that he prays and knowing why he prays means a lot.

I’m grateful for my friend and his family. They are full of faith, hope, and love, despite the difficulties that they have been through. I aspire to pray for them even more consistently and passionately.

The more I think about the people I love and the more I think about their hearts for Christ, I’m grateful. I’m grateful for who they are and for all of the times that they have encouraged me.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to pray for a friend. Perhaps God wants you to walk in gratitude for the Godly people He placed in your life. Perhaps it’s time to tell the people you love and are grateful for that you are grateful for them and are praying for them.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Holmes, M. (1998). 1 and 2 Thessalonians (pp. 48–49). Zondervan Publishing House.
Shogren, G. S. (2012). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (pp. 56–60). Zondervan.
Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (pp. 87–91). W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
Kim, S., & Bruce, F. F. (2023). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (D. B. Capes, Ed.; Second Edition, Vol. 45, pp. 141–148). Zondervan Academic.
Morris, L. (1984). 1 and 2 Thessalonians: An introduction and commentary (Vol. 13, pp. 43–45). InterVarsity Press.
Beale, G. K. (2003). 1–2 Thessalonians (pp. 45–49). InterVarsity Press.
Weima, J. A. D. (2014). Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1–2 Thessalonians (R. W. Yarbrough & R. H. Stein, Eds.; pp. 81–89). Baker Academic.
Guyer, M. S. (2016). Thessalonian. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, L. Wentz, E. Ritzema, & W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Lexham Press.

one step: water break

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you.

---

What is the Christian community supposed to look like? All who have spent any amount of time in a community of Christians have experienced or observed some interaction that does not meet expectation. The expectation for Christians to be like Christ encompasses many features, but the all-encompassing feature of the Christian community ought to be love.

It is in the category of love that many find disappointment. We come with expectations of what that love should look like. Perhaps you came to belong to a Christian community and expected that love to look like words of encouragement. Maybe you came to a Christian community expecting someone to serve you in some way, take the time to get to know you, give you a hug or shake your hand, or something similar. Maybe you expected to be treated justly, spoken to kindly, respected rightfully, or given grace and understanding.

Perhaps you expected these things and did not receive them, or you did for a time and it stopped.

I’m sorry. I cannot speak for everyone, but I do believe that as a member of the Christian community, I can represent it. Surely, if I cause damage in society as a member of Christian community, many will allow my damaging behavior to color their view of the Christian community as I stand as a representative of it by declaring my membership to it. Similarly, please allow these words I speak now to color your view of the Christian community: I’m sorry.

The Church attempts to follow Christ well, but the Church is not Christ. Therefore, the Church is not perfect and painfully reminds others of this truth. This is not an excuse for poor behavior and lax standards, for Christ is the standard and a perfect one at that. The imperfection and failings of the Church are simply a reality.

If you are a member of the Church, there is a picture of love that we must all aim for. If you are outside of the Church and looking in, or if you have visited or been a part of a church and left, the heart of God for you is this…

In the words of Rodney Whitacre,

Jesus loves just as the Father loves (v. 9), and he commands his disciples to love one another just as he has loved them (v. 12). Thus, the community is characterized by divine love. If this love were just a feeling, such a command would be impossible to fulfill. But the love Jesus refers to is an act based in a certain state of heart. Specifically, it is the laying down of one’s life based on willing the good of the other. By God’s grace we can indeed choose to will the good of the other, and we can choose to act accordingly. This is the love Christians are called to in Christ, for Jesus says we are to love one another just as he has loved us, which he immediately defines in terms of laying down of one’s life for one’s friends (v. 13; cf. 10:14–15, 18; 13:34, 37; 14:31.

Lord, please help us to love well.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to lay down your life for someone by putting their needs above your own. Perhaps today God wants you to love others in the way you wish that they showed love to you. Maybe today God wants you to forgive someone for not representing the love of Jesus well. Perhaps today God wants you to aim for His lofty standard of love. Maybe today God wants you to receive His love in your heart.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (pp. 521–522). Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.
Burge, G. M. (2000). John (p. 419). Zondervan Publishing House.
Klink, E. W., III. (2016). John (C. E. Arnold, Ed.; pp. 656–657). Zondervan.
Whitacre, R. A. (1999). John (Vol. 4, pp. 378–379). IVP Academic.
Beasley-Murray, G. R. (1999). John (Vol. 36, p. 274). Word, Incorporated.
Mounce, R. H. (2007). John. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Luke–Acts (Revised Edition) (Vol. 10, pp. 577–578). Zondervan.