Think, Act, Be Day 59 – 1 Thessalonians 2:1-13

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Think, Act, Be Day 59 – 1 Thessalonians 2:1-13

But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children.

The stereotype of Paul is that of the finger-waving apostle chastising a church. Not so in Thessalonica. He’s a tender, vulnerable missionary pleading for help. What he faced in Thessalonica, he had never faced before. He’s in the uncharted territory, and he needs help.

When life throws the unexpected our way, Christians become their best when they admit their weaknesses, show their dependencies, and reach out to each other to work together for the sake of the gospel.

Few people like to depend on others—for a ride to grocery store, help with homework, or decisions in life. But the first step to change is to be willing to receive help from someone else. A famous apostle remembered that what you learned from your Momma is something you’ll still need later in life. No one can go it alone.
You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, 2 but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. 3 For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; 6 nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, 7 though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. 8 So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.
9 You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. 11 As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, 12 urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13 We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-13