Devotional Thoughts: Worthy Walk

Taking a look at 1 Thessalonians 2:9-16 this morning.

The first part describes how Paul and his companions tried their best to do two thing: not be a burden to them and to spur them forward in living for God.

not being a burden

For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

He was probably referring to avoiding being a financial burden on them. It is a sad reality of life today that some people feel that the church is just in business to pass the offering plate around to collect money or that the face of Christianity is the guy on television asking for money. For whatever reason, in the circumstances that Paul was in, he felt especially sensitive to the need to avoid any quid pro quo. We know he accepted financial gifts, see Philippians 4:10ff. It was probably those funds and his other labors that helped pay his bills.

Its a challenge for those who have accepted the opportunity to train and serve as pastors. For instance, it costs about $1000+ per class at Talbot or Fuller seminary where I have friends who are training to serve the church. It is a delicate balancing act for them to work and help pay the bills and accept the occasional financial gift from supporters. If you know some seminary students, please pray that they will be able to find the right balance that fosters their sense of God's providing and retention of the purity of motive in what they are doing.

spurring them onward

You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

In addition to their scrupulousness regarding money, they lived holy, righteous and blameless lives while they exhorted, encouraged and charged them to live out their faith.

It was really sad to hear the news about Ted Haggard. He stumbled badly. Yet, I have to give him credit for owning up to his errors. Mark D. Roberts, a pastor, has been writing about the situation and it makes for good reading. We need to be in prayer for those who lead in the church. We are all fallen creatures. Yet, we are being transformed and there are things we need to do to help us stay on the narrow path.

the word at work

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

What are words?

Letters assembled into bits form words. Words form sentences and convey thoughts. Sentences arranged to form paragraphs make a train of reason. In written form and spoken form, it is words that God miraculously uses to change our lives.

There is power in raw words when God is there. The way we live our lives speak of those words changing us earning us the opportunity to share actual words to someone observing and intrigued by the difference in our lives. At least, that is what I hope is happening in my life!

not alone

For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved -- so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God's wrath has come upon them at last!

I would imagine they might feel discouraged amidst suffering for their faith. Paul encourages them: you are not alone. The churches in Judea faced the same opposition. The prophets of old faced dangers. The proclaimers of the faith like Paul and others faced persecution.

Today, persecution of Christians exists. I confess my own lack of awareness and prayerfulness about this reality.

Lord, when one part of the body hurts the whole body should hurt. I confess that living here in the USA means I am not alert to what is happening elsewhere. Help me to be in prayer that your Kingdom would come by bringing conviction to those who would harm people for simply believing in Jesus. Lord, in your timing, may your Kingdom come in fullness yielding deliverance for those who suffer and justice upon those who inflict suffering. In my life here in Los Angeles, amidst the people I walk with, help me to walk worthy of you. Give me opportunities to share my faith. Amen.