Good Morning MBC. Our Scripture reading today is 1 Thessalonians 2.
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
The gospel compels us to do things we would not ordinarily do. For example, Paul says that he proclaimed the gospel in the midst of conflict. He proclaimed the gospel to please and glorify God, not himself. He also chose to love and care for strangers “like a nursing mother.” The gospel in us will certainly make us distinct and strange people in the world, and it’s all to the glory of God.
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Paul was not only like a gentle, caring mother with them, he was also “like a father with his children” among them. The point is, he didn’t just coddle them but “exhorted…and encouraged” them “to walk in a manner worthy of God.” As Christians, we need relate to other believers in the same way. Be gentle and caring, but also be truthful and push others toward faithfulness.
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!
The normal path of the Christian life takes believers through seasons of persecution and suffering. Here we see that the Jewish Christians suffered, and that the Gentile Christians suffered. Why? Because Jesus also suffered. Suffering doesn’t mean God has forgotten us. Suffering makes us more like Jesus. Don’t worry though, God will eventually bring judgment to those who persecute the church.
17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
What a joy will be ours to see men and women in heaven who God brought to Himself through our witness! May this thought compel us to more faithful gospel witness.
I hope you have a blessed day!
Pastor Tim
Comments are closed