1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

At first glance this passage appears to be little more than a personal expression from one friend to another. But it is more than that; it reflects the character of a godly heart, a character we can and need to develop. English Bibles generally fail to communicate the emotion of Paul in verse 17. The NASB uses “having been bereft of you,” while the NIV uses “torn away,” which is a little better. Literally what Paul says is, “We were orphaned from you.” The separation that was imposed was more than a mere absence; it was like losing a parent. Paul felt like he lost his mom and dad when he left the Thessalonians. He could not see their faces, but he held them in his heart. Some in the Thessalonian church, perhaps for their own agenda, may have made negative accusations about Paul's love and commitment to the church.

Paul explains his absence in terms of satanic activity. We are not told what kept Paul from returning; it may have been the politics of Thessalonica, illness, or troubles in his current ministry at Corinth. It is interesting to note that at least in this small skirmish, Satan won. Even against the Apostle Paul, Satan does win sometimes, even against the best of disciples. We have a tendency to say “it must not have been God's will” when good things don't transpire as we'd hoped. That fails to take into account a powerful, smart, active, and effective enemy. This enemy is no match for our Father, but he is more than a match for us, and he has many powerful allies.

When the King comes, what will be our reward? Paul uses the term “crown,” the laurel wreaths given to the winners at the game or to victorious generals, to describe our reward. What is the victor's crown for believers? Looking at verses 19-20, Paul says it is those we have led to Christ, the disciples we have made. Not our buildings, budgets, books, or attendance figures. Nothing other than disciples we have made. The word “coming” refers to royalty approaching a city and the population going out to meet him. Paul sees himself leading a delegation to meet the King when He comes. These people in the delegation are glory and joy for Paul; they are his crown. Many, indeed most, Christians will have no delegation with them when they meet the king. What a disappointment it would be to meet the king and to be alone.

“Lord, excite in me a passion to make disciples. AMEN”

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

It is worth noting, and repeating in our lives, the practice of Paul. Paul was a man who was profoundly and consistently thankful. Paul is thankful that the Thessalonians receive “the word of God's message” as the word of God, not just the word of men. We are often thankful, and should be, for a great many things, but are we always thankful that people accept the gospel message, with all that this implies? The word ‘accepted’ in verse 13 implies a certain intensity and intimacy. The word means that its impact was not on the perimeter of life but at the core of their being. The result of this kind of ‘accepting’ is that the word “also performs its work in you.” When people take seriously the gospel and take it to the core of their being, it has a profound impact; it changes lives. If our lives are not changed by our church’s preaching, teaching, or message, it leads us to two possibilities. The first possibility is that we are not taking the message seriously and taking it to heart; the other possibility is that the message offered is not the word of God's message but some self-centered false gospel.

The result of this life-changing message is hardship. If someone says, “Believing the gospel results in peace, affluence, and ease,” they ought to consider verse 14. When the message is “Jesus is Lord, and therefore no one else is” (not Caesar, not money, not you, nor any idol), people will get upset and try to silence that message. Jews and Gentiles, modern and ancient, people who reject the Gospel and are enemies of God and of men. All who oppose the message are in fact enemies of humanity.

It is pretty easy to look at this passage and think of Muslim, Hindu, or political persecution of Christians. But we need not look so far away. Church leadership that resists the growth of the Gospel and would rather control churches fit this category. All leaders who kowtow to pressure that prevents Kingdom impact are also enemies of God and man. They need not wait for Judgment Day and their ruin; God's wrath is already coming upon them.

“Lord, help me always be passionate about the expansion of the Kingdom. AMEN”

I Thessalonians 2:1-12

I Thessalonians 2:1-12

It is amazing how scripture speaks so clearly to our day and circumstances, even if written almost 2000 years ago. In these verses Paul talks about planting, his relationship with, the character of, and the results of the church.

Paul came to Thessalonica having been abused and mistreated in Philippi. If the gospel workers were doing their work for any earthly motive or compensation, it wasn’t worth it. They were not after power, money, glory, or ease of life. Much of the shame of the church has been the result of the career of ministry being a jobs program or shortcut to a personal agenda. The question is not “Would you do ministry if you were paid nothing?” That is only a beginning point. The question is, would you do it if you had to pay your own way, perhaps in blood? We need to be careful of easy, glib answers. It was costly for Paul to plant the church, but he did so out of love for God, which translated into how he cared for the church. 

In verses 5-9 we see the ‘parent’ love of Paul for this church. Rather than being a big shot that is separated from the adoring groupies and crowds, Paul describes his ministry in the most intimate terms of a nursing mother and a (less obvious) hardworking provider father. The very relationship of the church is formed by the close relationship and the labor of the minister. Sadly, too often, this is lost in the modern church, along with the internal character of the kind of church this relationship can form. Whereas Paul described his ministry in tender terms, we often try to make sure that people stay anonymous, and in so doing, we inhibit relationship building.

Paul’s impeccable moral character was displayed to these new believers. The description Paul gives of himself was upright and blameless. The word upright carries the implications of justice or fairness; the word blameless means even a nitpicking investigation could not produce a charge of corruption. Scandals large and small have done great harm to the cause of Christ, and they frequently form around power, money, and moral character.

The point of Paul’s pious behavior was not just personal integrity, important as that is, but it was to pass on that same moral strength. In one sense we can never fully “walk in a manner” worthy of the Gospel, but in another sense we move in that direction when we take each moment and decision and make that moment worthy of the Gospel. 

“Lord, help me to live each moment for Your glory. AMEN”