For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 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. (1 Thessalonians 2:3, 4 ESV)
I think this was an important passage for me to hear this morning especially bringing up the point that as people who know the truth, we should no longer speak to please man but rather to please God. We don't make exceptions for the truth or water down the truth just because some people may not like the conviction that it causes them (including us sometimes). We can still show them love but cannot lie to them.
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. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor witha pretext for greed-God is witness.
ReplyDelete- 1 Thessalonians 2:4-5 -
I think this verse is so applicable and direct to us. I think, often times, as a Christian I try so hard to please other people at church or at school. I want everybody to like me so I pretend to be someone else. I always seek a stamp of approval from someone else when I should be looking towards God and asking for his love and approval. As a children of God, our main focus should be to spread God's words and truth. We need to be different from the rest of the world and cannot water down the truth like Marcus said just because what others would think of us. And to do this, I think we need to constantly pray and ask God for courage, boldness, and conviction.
"For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 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." 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4
ReplyDeleteThis made me think about how different it can be to look at actions vs. intentions. God tests the hearts of men because He knows what is at our core, and how different this can be from a surface appearance. Our purpose in things should be to please God, and not do what seems right to anyone else. This is a pretty simple and well known Christian doctrine, but nevertheless important. It is very easy to get caught up in appearances and trying to do what seems to go with the flow, but these kinds of incentives fall short of the joy of the Lord. I need to remember that joy for pleasing the Lord is the ultimate incentive.
For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 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. (1 Thessalonians 2:3, 4 ESV)
ReplyDeleteI fear the kind of tests they had to go through. God asked them to share His gospel in conflict brought on directly by His word. It would have been far easier to avoid suffering by not sharing God's word, but they did it anyway. God provided them the strength to make it through the trials. Interestingly these trials added weight to their message at the same time. Who when being punished for lying would continue the lie? Because they persevered in telling the gospel, more people believed. Not only did God use the situation they were in to test them, but He also used it to further his kingdom. It's amazing how persecution of Christians actually ends up helping our relationships with God and spreads his kingdom. God is good. This reminds me of a verse:
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)
God is good!