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1 Thessalonians 2 (ESV)

Paul’s Ministry to the Thessalonians

2 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.

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.

 

REFLECTION:

1. For Paul, evangelism was always delightful and exciting. Paul’s proclamation of the Gospel was not to win the approval of the Thessalonians, but to please God who knows his heart and motivation (v4).
2. In the brief time Paul was with the Thessalonian Christians, he developed a close relationship with them as he shared the Gospel. He spoke of himself “like a nursing mother taking care of her own children”. And “like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you” (v12).
3. The Lord has entrusted us this Good News. What is your attitude towards spreading this Good News? When you share the Good News, what are you more concerned about: the way that people might respond or what God’s purposes are?
4. Ask God to give you encouragement to be a gentle and loving evangelist.

 

PRAYER:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what He wants to tell you.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in your spiritual journal.

 

HYMN:

 

To the Ends of the Earth: www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-Ct_yQjRao