Devotionals by Stuart and Jill Briscoe
And I say to the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good. - 2 Thessalonians 3:13
Some of the believers in Thessalonica were so convinced that the Lord’s second coming was imminent that they decided it was useless to work for their living! Paul was horrified by this, so he told the idlers, in no uncertain terms, to earn their own living, following the example he gave them while he was with them.
As we await his return, Jesus prays for us that our faith and our strength will not fail (Luke 22:32; John 17:15-17). He doesn’t want us wilting while we’re waiting! Think about it—Jesus worked hard. He spent years working for his living. And when he did kingdom work fulltime, he was never too harried to heal, never too faint to fight for a soul, never too tired to talk with those who sought him, never too weary to listen in love. And yet, because he experienced our human nature, he knows how tiredness can weaken our body, and he understands what it is like to be on the edge of tears. Now, as we continue his work on earth by doing good and building the kingdom, Jesus rejoices in heaven over the sheep on earth coming into the fold.
A journey with Jesus is not an easy thing. You won’t get to your destination without sand in your sandals and dirt in your hair, but you will have the incalculable joy of his company. His abundant sympathy and his “Well done” at the end of the day will be worth it all.
For Further Study: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Women, Copyright ©2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
For more from Jill Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.
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About Telling the Truth
About Stuart and Jill Briscoe
Jill Briscoe was born in England and found Christ when she was 18 years old. She never looked back. Upon graduating from Cambridge University, she began working as a teacher by day and had a vigorous street ministry to the youths of Liverpool by night.
She met Stuart at a youth conference and they married in 1958. In the 50 years since, Jill has become a highly sought-after Bible teacher and author who travels around the world ministering to under-resourced churches and speaking at international seminars and conferences. Since 2000, she and Stuart, who was formerly senior pastor of Elmbrook Church for 30 years, have had the joy of equipping and encouraging believers across the globe in their roles as ministers-at-large for Elmbrook.
Jill has authored more than 40 books including devotionals, study guides, poetry and children's books. Her vivid, relational teaching style touches the emotions and stirs the heart. She serves as Executive Editor of Just Between Us, a magazine of encouragement for ministry wives and women in leadership, and served on the board of World Relief and Christianity Today, Inc., for over 20 years.
Jill and Stuart call suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin their home. When they are not traveling, they spend time with their three children, David, Judy and Peter, and thirteen grandchildren.
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