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Good morning dear friends, today we begin a new month together. It really is summer now, no matter where you live in North America, right?
We’re reading 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 today… one of my favorites. This chapter invites all of us to look back at the places we’ve lived and consider how we lived there. Consider the relationships we had, the reputation we developed in the time we lived there, the legacy we left behind as we moved on to somewhere else.
Of course for a few of you dear friends, you’ve only lived in one place your whole life… and for a very few of you, your parents lived in that same town most all their lives! So that’s a generational family legacy. This chapter will give us lenses through which to ‘look back’. OK…here we go:
Paul begins with a very powerful statement “You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure.” Yet, being run out of town after only a few weeks would qualify for most people as being a dismal failure! So, what does Paul see as success in that short stint in Thessalonica, as recorded in Acts 17:1-10?
Paul remembers the pain with which he and Silas first came to Thessalonica. They walked from Philippi, I presume, and their wounds from the unjust beating and imprisonment there had not yet healed. Also, the emotional scars inflicted in Philippi were hoping for a warm welcome, with respect in Thessalonica. . .but as you see in vs. 2 it was instead “strong opposition”. So what kept Paul going?
I see part of the answer in verse 4 “We speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel.” Now THAT is a life purpose, a high and holy calling, a commissioning worth the suffering! Paul was convinced that he had been personally chosen by God, equipped by God, and entrusted with the clear Gospel message from God Himself, and was sent as God’s personal ambassador to the people of these towns. Now think about that friends!
Perhaps some of you reading this have had the privilege and responsibility of being a representative of an organization, or maybe you’ve served as a key leader in your church. Representing other people or an organization or a ‘brand” is a big deal, and carries a load of responsibility doesn’t it. It also causes you to look closely at that which you represent, right?
This concept seems to be ever present in Paul’s mind, everywhere he went, which is why he wrote it so clearly in 2 Corinthians 5:20 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors as though God were making His appeal [to the world] through us.”
So read 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 from the perspective of an “ambassador” reflecting back on how he represented the person, Jesus Christ the King; and His kingdom of God.
First, Paul wanted to be sure his representation of Jesus was clear, honest, understandable… not from impure motives nor using trickery or manipulation. Do you see that in vs. 3?
Second, Paul makes it clear he lives for an audience of ONE, his Sovereign Jesus. Public rejection of him or his message is not important to him, as long as he is true to his King Jesus and the King’s message, and confident his King is pleased with him as His ambassador.
Third, it’s important to Paul that as he looks back and reviews his time in Thessalonica, he sees that he was humble, gentle, loving, non-aggressive…sharing not only the Gospel but he writes “our lives as well.” vs. 8. Why? Do you see he writes: “because you had become so dear to us.” That tells me Paul did not come into town offensively or aggressively, but lovingly, winsomely, seeking to build friendships as he presented the good news of Jesus.
In fact look closely at verse 9. Paul worked hard to not be a burden to anyone but to be a contributor to improving the quality of life in every town he visited. Isn’t it interesting that Paul makes reference to living ‘among you like a mother caring for her little children’ in verse 7 and then in vs 11 ‘we dealt with you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory.”
Wow… time to stop for a “Selah”. Remember that word in the Psalms, which means ‘rest and reflect’. Look back, consider your life journey and use these verses as a mirror. What do you see?
And now look what Paul does in vs. 11-16. He turns the search light from evaluating what he remembers about his lifestyle to what he remembers was the RESPONSE of the people his life touched! Now watch that friends. It’s one thing to look at ourselves, our past life, the wake behind our boat. . .the vapor trail in the sky behind our jet plane, but it’s another thing to look at how our life has impacted, influenced, affected the people who we touched during those years. Right?
So what do you see when you look back… what lasting ‘fingerprint’ have you left on those who knew you, who worked with you, who lived near you, who were part of the same church or social groups as you? Does this reflection cause you to want to pray a while and ask God what HE sees as HE looks back over your life?
I wonder if Paul did that as he was dictating this letter… just stopped for a while to reflect. Did a smile come over his face or did tears start rolling down his cheeks? What about you my friends?
Clearly there is both joy and pain for Paul as he remembers Thessalonica, for do you hear the emotion in vs. 17 & 18?
And what about verse 18 and this matter of “Satan stopped us”? Now that sure is interesting. Do you remember in Acts 16:6, 7 Luke writes that Paul was restrained, prevented by the Holy Spirit of God from going into Asia where he passionately wanted to go. Here in 1 Thessalonians 2 Paul writes that the devil prevented him from returning back to visit his friends in Thessalonica. When you find the road blocked in your life can you discern the difference between a work of God, and a barrier of Satan? And what about just plain accidents? Is God Sovereign over everything or not?
YES He is Sovereign!… so EVERYTHING that appears to be a roadblock God has either Caused or Allowed according to His Sovereignty…right? And ALWAYS it will fit within God’s larger purpose and plan right? Remember Ephesians 1:11,12…it says: “In HIM we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the PLAN of Him who works out everything in conformity with the PURPOSE of His will, in order that we who… hope in Christ might be for the praise of His glory.”
Paul’s closing statement in chapter 2 has been a guiding light for Dawn and me for more than 30 years and is the reason we know most all of you in all the places God has led us to live. “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you? Indeed YOU are our glory and joy.”
Oh yes my friends… YOU, each of you, the dear people in Haiti, Montvale, Fargo, Wms Bay, Maryville and now Leesburg… among whom we have lived and tried to love as Jesus would… YOU, even now, are what Dawn and I spend our evenings thinking about. Such dear friends, such remarkable things we saw God do in each place for His glory. Thank you for how you have responded to the Gospel and Jesus, as we have come to you and lived among you. And we hope you can rejoice in seeing the same, as you look back over your life journey as God has led you from place to place…
Let’s plan on having a wonderful month of June together.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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