Is It Not YOU?

May 20
3 min read

A 3-Day Devotional Based on Pastor Bill's message, May 17, 2026

Day 1 - Receiving the Real Thing

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:13–14; Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16–17

Devotional:

There is a fundamental difference between hearing a message and receiving it. We are bombarded daily by "trash"—a constant stream of social media, news, and advertisements that compete for our attention but offer very little for our souls. When the Apostle Paul looked at the believers in Thessalonica, he didn't just thank God that they listened to him; he thanked God that they accepted his message as the very Word of God. They understood that while man’s words might inform us, only God’s Word has the power to transform us.

When we approach the Bible as a divine love letter rather than just a historical text, it begins to do a "work" within us. This work, often called sanctification, is what makes us a brand-new person in the middle of a regular work week. It is the spiritual nourishment that sustains us when life feels empty. If you feel like your faith has stalled, ask yourself if you are merely "hearing" the Word as an intellectual exercise or if you are "receiving" it as the primary authority over your life.

Application:

What is one specific "trash" source in your life that you can replace this week with intentional time in the Word of God?

Day 2 - Navigating Necessary Resistance

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:14–18; Acts 17:5; Ephesians 6:12

Devotional:

When we decide to follow Jesus, we often expect the path to be smoothed out for us. However, the early believers in Thessalonica experienced the opposite: as soon as they received the Word, they faced an "uproar" from their own countrymen. This resistance wasn't a sign that they had done something wrong, but rather a validation that they were now "imitators" of those who had gone before them in Judea. Sometimes the "problem" isn't a lack of faith, but the natural friction that occurs when the Gospel meets a world that isn't ready for it.

Paul identifies that this resistance has layers. While it manifests through people and circumstances, there is often a spiritual "hindrance" working behind the scenes to stop our progress. Whether the obstacle is a cultural clash, a personal trial, or a direct satanic attack, the response remains the same: we must "go on" in the path of duty. By recognizing that opposition is a part of the journey, we can stop being surprised by the struggle and start being strengthened by it.

Application:

Think about a current struggle in your life. Instead of asking "Why is this happening?", try asking "How is God using this resistance to refine my faith and keep me moving forward?"

Day 3 - Our Eternal Trophies

Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20; 1 Corinthians 3:11–15; Daniel 12:3

Devotional:

We were not left on this earth simply to be comfortable or prosperous; we were left here to be witnesses. There is a day coming, known as the judgment seat of Christ, where our lives will be evaluated not for our salvation, but for our faithfulness. On that day, the things we did for ourselves will burn away like hay and stubble, but the investments we made in people will remain as precious stones.

Paul asked a poignant question: "What is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting?" His answer was simple: "Is it not you?" The people we disciple, the neighbors we love, and the strangers we share the Gospel with are the only "trophies" we get to take to heaven. We will lose out on an immense sense of joy if we arrive in eternity empty-handed. Our greatest legacy isn't our bank account or our career achievements; it is the faces of the people who will be standing in heaven because we were obedient in sharing the Word.