|
Mid-Week with Christ
October 21, 2020
|
|
|
1 Thess. 2:3-12
1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. 9 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. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 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.
Prayer for the Day
Beloved Father, you love your wayward children and redeem them through the work of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, for which we give you thanks and praise forevermore. Amen!
|
|
|
|
There is no question that some modern Christian leaders have given Christianity a bad name. One could go down the list: Creflo Dollar's fundraising appeal so he could buy an improved, $65 million dollar private jet. The multimillion dollar homes owned by some prominent Texas pastors. From the malfeasance of the Bakkers in the 1980s to the fall of Jerry Falwell, Jr. this year, it seems that famous religious leaders are as often con-men as men of Christ.
This problem is not new, nor is it original to Christianity. Men and women throughout the ages have used their charisma, married to religion and spirituality, to make a name (and life) for themselves. Paul was aware of these very people in Thessalonica and elsewhere in Greece. They "came with words of flattery" and with "a pretext for greed," looking only "to please man."
Paul distanced himself from those kinds of leaders, and pointed out the character of a true Christian under-shepherd. Unlike false leaders, he did not make demands of the people. Instead, he was gentle among them, "like a nursing mother taking care of her own children." Paul shared the Good News of the reconciliation with God in Jesus Christ, and expected nothing in return. He shared his own self with the Thessalonians, so that he "might not be a burden to any of you."
Pastors are not perfect. We can get carried away with ourselves. We can forget that preaching the Word is a privilege, not a right. We can be tempted to be more like a harsh father than a loving mother. But like all Christians, we repent and turn back to Christ who, like a loving mother himself, gathers us together under his wings and call us his own. Together as pastors and people, we strive to walk in a manner worthy of our calling: that of being God's own children through the blood of Jesus.
|
|
|
|
|
