November 11, 2015
Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:3-7a
3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7Instead, we were like young children among you.
Questions for Reflection:
In this passage, he compares his life to those of other traveling teachers. How did the other teachers teach? How did Paul speak? With what motives did the other teachers act? What was Paul’s motivating force? Throughout the passage, Paul makes sure that the church at Thessalonica knew that his primary concern was pleasing God, not them or any other person.
One commentator summarized this passage by saying: “Behind his concern over means and motives is Paul’s obvious concern for the integrity of the message. He deliberately avoided behavior or actions that might lead people to doubt or suspect the integrity of the message or the sincerity of his preaching.” Paul’s ultimate concern was the gospel. He conducted his life in such a way as to make sure he was not a hinderance to others coming to know Jesus. Paul’s concluding statement, “we were like young children among you,” underscores this point.
Jesus challenged his followers to “be as wise as serpents, as innocent as doves.” How can you live with that type of innocence? How can we conduct ourselves with that innocence as a church? as individuals? If we conducted ourselves with that mindset, how would it impact our everyday life?