1 Thessalonians 2
1 Thessalonians 2
Paul's Ministry in Thessalonica
1You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. 2We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. 3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.
As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 9Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
Observation:
Paul shows us today that it is not always what we say (content), but how we say it (compassion) that can make a difference in someone’s life. Paul and his colleagues did not preach the gospel to the Thessalonians for personal greed or another “notch in their belt”, but because they were called of God. As they shared the gospel, they also shared their lives.
It is one thing to preach at someone, which usually yields little results, and quite another thing to be a living, breathing, incarnation of the gospel. Paul knew it would not just be words that would win over these people, but the Gospel lived out in a life of sacrifice. Paul often had jobs (called “tentmaking”) to provide for his financial needs so he wouldn’t be a financial burden to those he preached to.
And apparently this method worked very well in their lives, as we saw in the last chapter that the faith of the church at Thessalonica was ringing out all over the known world. When the Thessalonians received the Word of God, they received it not as word from men but from God and became imitators of Paul and the other believers.
Application:
Who has God called you to share your life with? Who has become so dear to you that you would be willing to sacrifice some of your own comfort to show the true nature of the Gospel?
Most people can sense whether or not you truly care about them or are just looking to get some kind of recognition out of the relationship. As we truly invest in others God has called us to, we can like Paul not only share the Gospel but our very lives.
Prayer: God lead me to people who you would call me to be like Paul for the sake of the gospel. Help me to lay down my life so that others might see you and want to imitate the life of following you. Thank you for entrusting the gospel to me and may I be as faithful as Paul to give of myself as he did. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Paul's Ministry in Thessalonica
1You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. 2We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. 3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.
As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 9Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
Observation:
Paul shows us today that it is not always what we say (content), but how we say it (compassion) that can make a difference in someone’s life. Paul and his colleagues did not preach the gospel to the Thessalonians for personal greed or another “notch in their belt”, but because they were called of God. As they shared the gospel, they also shared their lives.
It is one thing to preach at someone, which usually yields little results, and quite another thing to be a living, breathing, incarnation of the gospel. Paul knew it would not just be words that would win over these people, but the Gospel lived out in a life of sacrifice. Paul often had jobs (called “tentmaking”) to provide for his financial needs so he wouldn’t be a financial burden to those he preached to.
And apparently this method worked very well in their lives, as we saw in the last chapter that the faith of the church at Thessalonica was ringing out all over the known world. When the Thessalonians received the Word of God, they received it not as word from men but from God and became imitators of Paul and the other believers.
Application:
Who has God called you to share your life with? Who has become so dear to you that you would be willing to sacrifice some of your own comfort to show the true nature of the Gospel?
Most people can sense whether or not you truly care about them or are just looking to get some kind of recognition out of the relationship. As we truly invest in others God has called us to, we can like Paul not only share the Gospel but our very lives.
Prayer: God lead me to people who you would call me to be like Paul for the sake of the gospel. Help me to lay down my life so that others might see you and want to imitate the life of following you. Thank you for entrusting the gospel to me and may I be as faithful as Paul to give of myself as he did. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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