SYNCHRONIZED FOR SERVICE
Opening Prayer
Lord, teach me how to be an example to others.
Read 1 THESSALONIANS 2:1–16
Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica
2 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children[a] among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, 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. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.[b]
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts were gentle
- 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or them fully
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Consider this challenging question, especially regarding youth and children’s work: ‘Are you living UP to what you are handing DOWN?’
Think Further
Today the people of Thessalonica live under constant surveillance. CCTV cameras are everywhere. Every move made is recorded and can be reviewed. Rosie Millard wrote ‘these days the all-seeing being is the digital camera, which in the real world does indeed play judge and jury for countless little crimes, and some big ones’ (R Millard, New Statesman, 13 February 2006, quoted by J Lamb, Integrity, IVP, 2006, p36), Paul, however, has no fear of such scrutiny. Indeed, he calls six times for the witness of the Thessalonian believers to his own integrity and twice for God’s (1,2,5,9,10,11). Paul can be trusted; he is sound in both doctrine and behavior. Of course, the apostle knows that he is a sinner, even describing himself once as ‘the worst of sinners’ (1 Tim 1:16), but, as far as he is able, he sets checks and boundaries in place so that he cannot be justly accused of unrighteousness. So, he works day and night not to be a financial burden on the infant church. He also rejects any kind of trickery (3), flattery, or hypocrisy (literally, playing a part on stage, which would have involved the wearing of masks) despite having been accused of all those things by his Judaizer enemies. How would you feel if your every action, private or public, were to be screened in a cinema near you?
Paul’s integrity (See 2 Cor 1:12; 2:17; 4:2; 7:2; 12:17) and that of his small team are a foundation for their methods. They are kindly and caring with the young believers. They are gentle with them, like a mother caring for her little children (7) and deal with them like a father (11). This parental approach pays dividends in results, because the team’s words are heard and accepted as the words of God. Their familial style of teaching prepares the church for suffering too, as they find themselves the targets of Jewish hatred and opposition. Churches can usually be great theater or great community – rarely can they be both.
Apply
Who has influenced you most greatly in your Christian faith? Pray for integrity and compassion in your dealings with others today.
Closing prayer
Lord, we have received Your Word, and we believe that it is the Word of God, not of humans.
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