Toiling to Proclaim the Gospel

Jesus Is Lord
Exalting Christ
Proclaiming Christ

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

The Message

2 ^1-2 So, friends, it’s obvious that our visit to you was no waste of time. We had just been given rough treatment in Philippi, as you know, but that didn’t slow us down. We were sure of ourselves in God, and went right ahead and said our piece, presenting God’s Message to you, defiant of the opposition.

No Hidden Agendas

^3-5 God tested us thoroughly to make sure we were qualified to be trusted with this Message. Be assured that when we speak to you we’re not after crowd approval—only God approval. Since we’ve been put through that battery of tests, you’re guaranteed that both we and the Message are free of error, mixed motives, or hidden agendas. We never used words to butter you up. No one knows that better than you. And God knows we never used words as a smoke screen to take advantage of you.

^6-8 Even though we had some standing as Christ’s apostles, we never threw our weight around or tried to come across as important, with you or anyone else. We weren’t aloof with you. We took you just as you were. We were never patronizing, never condescending, but we cared for you the way a mother cares for her children. We loved you dearly. Not content to just pass on the Message, we wanted to give you our hearts. And we did.
^9-12 You remember us in those days, friends, working our fingers to the bone, up half the night, moonlighting so you wouldn’t have the burden of supporting us while we proclaimed God’s Message to you. You saw with your own eyes how discreet and courteous we were among you, with keen sensitivity to you as fellow believers. And God knows we weren’t freeloaders! You experienced it all firsthand. With each of you we were like a father with his child, holding your hand, whispering encouragement, showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into his own kingdom, into this delightful life.

For Reflection

What is the proper way to proclaim the gospel? Is it bombastic rhetoric filled with the threats of eternal hell and the promise of eternal life? Or is it the promise of prosperity?  Or saved from sin? Or the offer of peace and comfort in the face of trouble? 

I suspect all ways work at some level.  God is both loving and punitive, merciful, redeeming, an advocate of peace, and above all, willing to accept all who call to Him.

How does one proclaim the Gospel?  Sincerely and with out a hidden agenda -- always preserving the right of one to choose his or her path into righteousness in the Kingdom of God.

Pray

that you will be humble in the robes of your God-centered self. Pray that you interact with discretion, and courtesy.  Pray that you will respect all with whom you come in contact.  Pray that you will be a conduit for God's grace.