Right Motives

Good Morning!

I am loving our study in 1st Thessalonians – and, though we are taking a one week hiatus, our next session appears to be really good.

Several days ago I mentioned how sometimes we get down on ourselves because our ministry just doesn’t seem to be producing the fruit we think it should. The church at Thessalonica apparently wasn’t a mega church – but, as Paul points out in chapter 1 – it had a great impact on people passing through this major city on the Egnatian Way – such that Paul had heard of its impact. Here’s our study chapter from Sunday:

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 (English Standard Version)
Paul’s Ministry to the Thessalonians
1For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2But 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. 3For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4but 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. 7But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8So, 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.

9For 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. 10You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11For you know how, like a father with his children, 12we 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.

When Paul arrived at Thessalonica, he was in pretty rough shape. He had been beaten and jailed in Philippi – and then forced to leave town. So when he begins talking about his ministry there, he points out that his first impression wasn’t too impressive – but the people were drawn to the message of Christ. Why? I believe it was because his motives were the right motives to reach the people. Look at how he explains it to the Thessalonians:
(1) They boldly declared the gospel of God in spite of conflict. In our world today, Christians who boldly speak the gospel of Christ are often criticized or treated with disregard.
(2) They were honest and straightforward. They did not resort to conforming with the whims of the world to reach people. They stated the claims of Christ clearly. We must do the same.
(3) They did not seek fame or fortune or make unreasonable demands of the people. They worked hard and provided for themselves – and were an example for the Thessalonians.
(4) They shared of themselves – they built relationships rather than a religion.
(5) They exhorted, encouraged and charged the Thessalonians to walk worthy of God. They set a standard and lived up to it and expected the Thessalonians to do so as well.

Paul, Silas and Timothy have thrown down the gauntlet for you and me. The letter to the Thessalonians could just as easily be a letter to the readers of Mr. Jim’s Good Morning. We are witnesses to God’s working in our lives – and we, too, can become the witness that Paul was. Today would be a good day to start.

Agape’



Mr. Jim