Hi, and thanks for joining us for another daily encouragement from our daily bread.

Today's reading was written by Monica LaRose, and she titled it, Onwards.

In the poem, Rest, the poet gently challenges our tendency to separate leisure time from work, asking,

Is not true leisure, one with true toil?

If you want to experience true leisure, instead of trying to avoid life's duties, the author urges,

still do thy best, use it, not waste it, else tis not rest. Wouldst behold

beauty near thee? All round, only hath duty, such a sight found. The poet concludes that

true rest and joy are both found through love and service, an idea that brings to mind

Paul's encouragement to the Thessalonians. After describing his calling to encourage believers

to live lives worthy of God, the apostle gives more specifics. And the picture he paints

of such a life is one of quiet integrity, love, and service.

Paul prays that God would make their love increase in overflow for each other and for everyone

else. And he urges believers in Jesus to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life,

to mind your own business and work with your hands.

It's that kind of life, quietly loving and serving in whatever ways God has enabled us that reveals to others the beauty of a life of faith.

Or, as the writer puts it, true joy is loving and serving, the highest and best,

tis onwards unswerving, and that is true rest.

Today's Our Daily Bread, devotional scripture reading is from from 1st Thessalonians chapter 3, verses 11 through 13, and chapter 4, verses 9 through 12.

Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow

for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts

so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord

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