"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!
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