Daily Devotional Wednesday 11th September 2024
by William Moody
1 Thessalonians 2
Paul’s Ministry to the Thessalonians
2:1 For you yourselves know, brothers,1 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,2 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 gentle3 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.
13 And we also thank God constantly4 for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men5 but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,6 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!7
Paul’s Longing to See Them Again
17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
Footnotes
[1] 2:1
Or brothers and sisters; also verses 9, 14, 17
[2] 2:5Or with a flattering speech
[3] 2:7Some manuscripts infants
[4] 2:13Or without ceasing
[5] 2:13The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women
[6] 2:14The Greek word Ioudaioi can refer to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time
[7] 2:16Or completely, or forever (ESV)
Paul outlines the sort of ministry he and his companions had among the Thessalonians (v1-12), not to bring praise to themselves, but to further prove the genuineness of their ministry.
They suffered as they shared the Gospel, but they kept going as they were convinced that they were in the right and had this message from God (v1-4). In everything they were seeking to please God and not men (v4), so human opposition was not the end of the world. This realisation of having a work to do for God and a desire to please God and not men is crucial in having a Christian life that makes an impact.
Paul’s life in Thessalonica strongly supported his message (v5-9). He was gentle (v7), sharing (v8) and hardworking (v9), so much so that no-one could point the finger at him (v10). Paul knew these people needed to hear the gospel from his mouth and also importantly see it lived out in his daily life (v10-12). Can we say what Paul says in v10 to others? May God give us needed grace!
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