'Roamers'

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, open my heart and mind, Holy Spirit. Fill my consciousness and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: 1 John 1:8–9

8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the 

truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and 

just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all 

unrighteousness.

Verse of the day: Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.—Psalm 37:4

Today’s reading: Isaiah 59-61 2 Thessalonians 3

‘Roamers’

I was in a small village in Ukraine at the back of a crowd of more than 200 people standing outside as they listened to the pastor speak on Sunday morning. There were folks who walked around among the crowd and they mumbled constantly as the preacher went on-they never stopped. After the service was over, I asked the translator what the 'roamers' were saying. She said they were old hard-line communist mumbling about this 'senseless message of Jesus'. This was 1993 not long after the fall of the 'iron curtain'.

There will always be those who come around the work and mumble. Here, they have evolved into folks who show up for things but are always negative. They always have a 'better way'.

These are the 'bad and evil' people Paul talked about. (In 2 Thessalonians 3 Paul writes: 5 "We pray that the Lord will lead your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s patience." Paul talks about 2 kinds of people that the new working church had to deal with. The first is mentioned in verse 2: "And pray that we will be protected from bad and evil people. )They are the voice of the enemy himself trying always to stir up negative feelings. This is one of the reasons Paul prayed for God's love and Christ's patience. God's love is completely unconditional. God loves the people themselves but, of course, not the bad and evil spirit they have. We must know how to love them as God does and have patience as we pray for them and work with them always with the hope that the Holy Spirit will give them sight and that they accept the truth of Christ Jesus.

The second kind of people are the ones who will not work(verses 6-14). Paul says at one point:10 "When we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If anyone will not work, he will not eat.” Then Paul writes in verse 13, "Brothers, never become tired of doing good." Then in verse 15, Paul says, " But do not treat him as an enemy. Warn him as a brother." If we put that together, we could say this, "Never become tired of being a brother in Christ in the love of God and with the patience of Christ.

Some people can really wear you down to your last nerve.

But remember, "See past the sin to the sinner" or the person who is created in the image of God but who is under the control of the enemy. It's all about the person-not the personality.

It's all about the relationships God wants us to cultivate.

Ask God to show you how to look at the souls of the difficult people as He does with love and patience.

...because He loves you, He will do it...

Father in Heaven,

Great is your faithfulness. Forgive me for becoming legalistic and judging; give me your love and Christ's patience to mend relationships and cultivate new ones.

Great God of righteous reconciliation,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen