Today’s Bible Reading:
2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21; Psalm 30; 1 Thessalonians 2
Topic: Calling
SCRIPTURE: 1 Thessalonians 2:4-12
4 … we speak
as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to
please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5
You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed —
God is our witness. 6 We
were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.
As apostles of Christ
we could have been a burden to you, 7
but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8 We loved you so much that
we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as
well, because you had become so dear to us. 9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship;
we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached
the gospel of God to you.
10 You are
witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among
you who believed. 11 For
you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own
children, 12 encouraging,
comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his
kingdom and glory.
(1 Thess 2:4-12 NIV)
OBSERVATION:
Paul and his ministry partners were men who took God’s
calling to leadership seriously. They saw their role as a high trust to preach
and teach the gospel alone, without error and with no selfish gain. God had “approved” them for this calling (v. 4).
APPLICATION:
God has called me to the leadership role of pastor and
teacher. Seeing myself also as one “approved by God to be entrusted with the
gospel,” first gives me confidence to teach with authority, and sobers me with
the responsibility of that trust. I am entrusted with God’s truth and charge to
make disciples by “encouraging,
comforting and urging” (v. 12) those I am privileged to teach and lead
toward their own place of trust, responsibility and calling.
PRAYER:
Lord, may I be worthy of the trust and calling You have
given me.
Through Christ and in the power of Your Holy Spirit for Your
glory. Amen. –AP
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