Just a Thought! - 25 March 2013

"For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

In our verse today, Paul commends the Thessalonians not only for their receiving the Word of God, but also for their believing that it truly is the Word of God. This leads us to a the question: Why should we believe the Word of God? In answering this question we need to bear in mind that not everyone will respond to the same answers in the same way. For some more answers need to be answered than others. With that said, join me as we ponder this question very briefly together.

Can We Trust the Bible?

Many in the world do not trust the Bible's portrait of Jesus. Some presume it is simply a tale told by some excellent religious storytellers. Or that the disciples concocted a story in order to start a new religion. Though they may believe that a man named Jesus did exist, some believe that the disciples made up the story of the resurrection in order to cover up what "really" happened - that they stole the body.

But consider this, if Jesus' body was stolen from the grave, and the disciples knew this, why would they have been willing to die for their testimony that Jesus rose from the dead? It is true that people are willing to die for a lie, but none would be willing to die for something that they know is a lie. Nor would they be willing to talk or write about such a lie while there were still hundreds, if not thousands, of people alive to verify or dispute it. In fact, the only dispute mentioned in the Bible and in history is by the Pharisees - those that wanted Jesus dead and Christianity quashed in the first place.

Based on all the evidence, which is too exhaustive to cover here, the picture of Jesus in the Bible is authentic, and based on eye-witness testimony.

Your Life Depends on It

Since then Jesus was a real person, and the things that the disciples said about Him is true, then we can safely say then that the things they said He said are also true. Therefore, we need to take what He said seriously. After all, the Bible is not merely an academic book. Though we can learn much from it, it is a book that is meant to change our lives and not just educate.

Jesus said that no-one can "see the Kingdom of God" without being born again, nor can anyone come "to the Father but through" Him (John 3:3 & 14:6). But He also spoke many negative words. If you had to take a red and a blue marker and mark all Jesus' "positive" words in blue and all His "negative" words in red, you will see that there would be more red than blue. In fact, Jesus spoke more about death and Hell than He did about life and Heaven. Therefore we need to take His words seriously. Our life depends on it

Why Do You Believe the Bible Is the Word of God?

This is a question you need to answer for yourself. Many will confront you in your life about your faith. Many will try to trip you up as if to turn you away from God. The devil himself will use all the tricks in the book to make you doubt God's Word.

But to answer that question is not enough. You may know the Bible to be true and that it is something to be taken seriously, but it needs to impact your heart and soul. Believing the Word of God and all it teaches in not just an act of the intellect. It needs to change us from the inside out. It needs to change our attitudes, thoughts, words and deeds. We need to receive it for what it is, the Word of God that comes from God not man, so that it can impact us the way it did with the Thessalonians who were willing to undergo persecution, knowing that one day they would see the glory of God (see 1 Thessalonians 2:14-20).

Just a Thought!

© 2013

Just a Thought! - 18 March 2013

"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. For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:10-13)

Paul's life was not just a way of private living before God, but before men too. By that I mean his life was an example to others. In a way, for most of us today to read Paul's description of his life in these verses seems rather arrogant. We tend to not like it when someone talks of the way that they lived as being upright and blameless. The difference here though is that Paul also tells them that God is witness to this fact. It is the same as if we had to make a claim about something and then say that God should strike us dead if it is not true.

What lessons can we learn from this? Join me as we look into these verses together.

Godly Behaviour

In verse 7 that we looked at previously, Paul described his dealings with the Thessalonians as motherly. The image there is one of sacrificial love, and a bond that cannot be broken. As Paul worked tirelessly for the people in Thessalonica, he was behaving like a mother would in providing for her children.

Here in verse 11 Paul now likens himself to a father providing instruction to his children. Not only that but he was encouraging them towards a goal, in this case, the goal of a righteous life. But this teaching was a teaching of urgency. This is seen in his use of the word "imploring." Paul saw this goal as being of extreme importance.

Too often today people take a rather passive role when it comes to directing people towards righteousness. It is as though they think that if they just lived a godly life that it would rub off onto other people. That people would voluntarily follow their example. Though this may happen, as we see here with Paul, this is not really how we should be doing it. We should be instructing others and guiding them towards righteousness. We should be pointing out their short-comings and at times even confronting them directly like Paul himself did at times.

A Godly Standard

Paul's life had been forever changed on the road to Damascus when he encountered Jesus. Previously he had tried to live a life pleasing God that was based entirely on works. A life that he probably would have boasted about to others in the same way that the scribes and Pharisees of the day tended to do. Now Paul's goal was to life a life worthy of God. A standard that far exceeded the standards of the Old Testament. No sinful human being can ever expect to live up to that standard. Think about it, how many people do you know that can even live up to your standard? How then can anyone expect to be able to live up to God's?

But Paul here, and elsewhere in his epistles, urges Christians to live in a manner worthy of God and the Gospel (see Ephesians 4:1 and Colossians 1:10). His point is that as Christians we are to conform our lives to the character of God. It is not about obeying the rules and standards laid out before us, but rather to have the desire, the goal, to want to be like Christ. And it is this standard we urge others to live up to, and not our own.

When we know God as the God who came into the world to die for unworthy, rebellious, sinners, we are compelled by the Holy Spirit to submit to His authority and to become conformed to His image.

When the Gospel gets hold of you, you are changed forever. Your focus is taken off yourself and placed on God who saved you with His amazing Grace. And as this happens, you pass it on to others and in turn implore them to not only be saved, but to press on towards the goal of righteousness. May your life be an example like Paul's.

Just a Thought!

© 2013

Just a Thought! - 11 March 2013

"But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. 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." (1 Thessalonians 2:7-9)

We all remember the day that the Twin Towers came down in New York City. It is one of those days etched in our minds that we can all recall where we were the moment we first saw the first tower collapse. We can also remember stories of the heroes of the day. Those firemen, police and paramedics that sacrificed their lives for the good of the innocent victims trapped in the buildings. Men and women who cared nothing for their own lives in order to save the lives of others. The same can be said of other tragedies like the tsunami in South-East Asia, and the numerous earthquakes around the globe.

But what does this have to do with today's text? Come with me and let me show us.

Motivated by Love

In verse 8 Paul reminds the church in Thessalonica of the love that he had for them, and that it pleased him greatly to share the Gospel with them, This was his motivation throughout his life. He did not just share the Gospel because he was commanded to by God, nor for any selfish gain, but purely out of love for the lost. He travelled from town to town, along dirt roads, giving up his rights in order to share the Gospel with as many as possible. Even when in prison he shared the Gospel with the guards. Paul loved everyone in a way that can only be described as godly. It was an undying, unconditional love, and it motivated him every step of the way.

Clearly those that died in the 9/11 disaster had a love for other people. They may not have been believers, but no-one would be willing to give up their lives for others if there was not some motivation of love for others to do so. This love spurred them on to save as many people as possible at the expense of their own lives.

What about you? When you tell other people about Christ, are you doing it out of a true love for others? A love that can only be described as coming from above and not of yourself? We may know all the right words and methods to share the Good News, but is the motivation pure?

Sacrificial Labour

Paul then reminds the Thessalonians in verse 9 of his labour for them. How he worked night and day for their benefit. He also hints at his hardships. While at Thessalonica he probably told them of his struggles along the way, the likes of which we read of in 2 Corinthians: "Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches." (vv24-28).

Like those who died helping others in 9/11, Paul was willing to lose his life for the benefit of others. He was willing to labour and toil for their sake, no matter how tired he became, or what injuries he suffered.

Are you willing to do the same when it comes to the Gospel? Are you willing to go through all the physical, emotional and spiritual struggles that the world will throw at you? Are you willing to have people mock you, spit in your face, or threaten your life? Life is tough, but when we begin to labour for the Gospel, it gets tougher. But then again, this is what Jesus called us to in the Great Commission after all.

Just a Thought!

© 2013

Just a Thought! - 4 March 2013

"For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed--God is witness-- nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority." (1 Thessalonians 2:3-6)

We are living in a society where people are always trying to manipulate others in one way or another. Even within the church there exists the temptation to try an manipulate people into attending and joining their church, often with the wrong motives.

Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians, after commending them for their own example, uses his own ministry as an example to us of what our own lives and ministries should be motivated by.

Pure Motives

In verse 3 Paul reminds the Thessalonian Christians that his motives for preaching to them were pure, that he was not trying to deceive or manipulate them in any way. Paul, and indeed all of the apostles, had a ministry based on the Gospel and the desire to share that Gospel with everyone else. Their desire simply was to get the Word out, and they never did it with any airs and graces or hypocrisy, but simply preached the truth.

We need to examine our own motives. In our ministries and lives are we doing the things we are doing for the right motives? Tied in with this is the issue of who are we trying to please, God or man? Paul and the apostles clearly aimed to please God and not man. They were willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the Gospel. Are we willing to do the same?

People only see our outward behaviour. We can fool them. But God looks at the heart, He is not fooled by the outward show. He sees our motives and our desire to please Him. If our hearts truly belong to Christ, then our motives and desire to please Him should be what drives us forward in everything that we do.

Selfless Motivation

The number one motivator of man is recognition. You can give people all the perks of the job and money that they ask for, you can even promote them to higher positions, but at the end of the day, those things do not truly motivate a person. Rather it is the recognition. Whether it is the CEO of a major business, or the tea lady in a small town office, all people seek recognition for what they do. They want to be told that they are doing a good job and that they are valued, and no amount of money will ever do that.

However, as believers that motivation needs to be different. Our own recognition and glory should be thrown out for the recognition and glory of God. As Paul said in verse 6, they did not do what they did in ministry for any praise at all from other men of from the Thessalonians themselves. Their motivation was clearly the Gospel and the glory of God.

What motivates you? Is it fame or the recognition of others? Is it the praise of man or the praise of God?

A Good Example

Paul is an example of a life changed by Christ. He was willing to give up everything for the service of others. His life is a contrast to the ways of the world, and indeed of many in the church. His life was characterised by unselfish lowliness, the willingness to serve others at any cost.

Such should be the life of anyone who has been changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and aims to live it out. Does this characterise your life?

Just a Thought!

© 2013