Day 751: True messengers of God's truth - 1 Thessalonians 2 vs 9 - 13

9-10 For you remember, brothers, our labour 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. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct towards you believers. 11-12 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.

13 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. 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 English Standard Version

There's been much commotion in the USA over their government's decision to set up a department to decide on what is truth and what is 'misinformation'. The obvious problem with that is how will people know if the department itself is speaking truth or error? But the quest for truth is not a new problem. What caused the apostle Paul to really rejoice about the time he had spent in Thessalonica? (vs 13)

The Thessalonians had realized that the gospel message Paul, Sylvanus and Timothy were teaching was God's truth. It wasn't something men had invented. It was not misinformation. Sadly though, that truth was soon twisted by people in the days of the apostles and is still denied by many theologians in our generation. There are teachers and preachers who have made the gospel more about social issues than about salvation from sin. There are ministers in Churches who do not believe the Bible is God's word and say it is only the words of men, and therefore subject to error. But it's only when we believe the Bible is God's message to mankind that it changes our lives.

There's another side to this issue. I think that one way it becomes clear that the Bible's message is from God, is if the lives of those teaching it demonstrate what we would expect of people who claim to be God messengers. If those who speak of a God who is holy and loving are people who are proud, domineering and greedy, we would have doubts about the truth of their message. But what do we read of Paul and his co-workers in vs 9 – 10?

We don't know how long Paul spent in Thessalonica but we see that, as was evidently his custom, he was willing to work and earn his keep. He didn't demand that the Thessalonians must support him. The gospel was not a money making trade. We see also that he and the others had conducted themselves in a holy and blameless way. There was no hint of anything inappropriate or inconsistent with the message of God's holiness which they preached. What a contrast that is to the lives of many who claim to be God's messengers today

But it's not just that they were holy and did not exploit anyone, what do verses 11-12 tell us as to why the Thessalonians realized that the gospel is God's truth?

In vs 7-8 of this Chapter Paul had used the example of the gentle manner in which a nursing mother takes care of her children to describe the genuine affection he and the others had for the Thessalonians. Now he uses the example of a good father who cares enough for his children to guide and encourage them through the early years of growth when they are more vulnerable to the pitfalls of life. To exhort someone means to teach and train so as to bring out the best in them, and for them. It's like being a really caring coach.

There's a great struggle in the world about what is true and what is false. Jesus said that when the Devil speaks “he lies, and speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44) And Jesus said that if people lie it shows that the Devil is their father. If we have come to Christ it should be our aim to live lives that are true in all we say, and in all we do. The truth of God's word is clearly seen when the lives of those it has changed are full of truth, and radiate the beauty of holiness. As an old hymn says: “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me - all His tender compassion and purity. Come, O Spirit divine, all my nature refine, till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.”