1 Thessalonians 2:9-12 says,...

Today's verses are 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12, which read,

v.9 - For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

Paul had a trade of tent making.  In the start of a new church, he provided his own living so that the group could get off the ground and running.  Stephanie and I know this procedure.  When we were called by God to start a church, we picked up our tools of trade to supply much of our living expenses for the task that was at hand.  There came a day when the church was on its feet and we could go back to what is the biblical norm of the church supplying the needs of the minister.  While Paul was working night and day, he was also proclaiming the gospel to the Thessalonians. 

v.10-12 - You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

The power of being able to see and be with those who are giving the message and instruction is invaluable.  There is comfort to be able to follow the sergeant up the hill rather than just follow the order from the sergeant to go up the hill.  Paul was pointing out that they were all witnesses of their very lives.  They worked alongside of them, ate alongside of them, and worshiped alongside of them.

Paul spoke before of giving loving comfort like a mother to her child and now he brings in the other parent, the father.  The father exhorts, encourages, and implores his children.  To exhort is to call to one's side.  To encourage is to speak to console.  To implore is to call others to be witnesses of the truth.  The father calls to his side his children with consoling words to be witnesses of the truth.  This is Paul's description of what he was doing with the Thessalonians.

The goal is that we would walk in a manner worthy of the God who has called us.  We have some walking to do.  We have some living to do for God.  God's call has purpose and we are to live our lives in light of Him as the Lord of our lives.

Paul as a nursing mother and as a involved father to those who he is sharing the gospel with, this is a great illustration for us.  Our care and compassion includes our alongside of instruction to those who we are sharing the gospel with.  We have been learning that this is the definition of true discipleship.

"Lord, I am understanding more of the sharing of the gospel message.  It is not just in word but also in life.  I am so thankful that my mother and father went beyond just speaking to us but living with us and living life before us.  May I learn to do so with the gospel message.  Amen." 

Pastor Adam