Entrusted with the gospel

1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:8 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

² We always give thanks to God for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; ³ constantly keeping in mind your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, ⁴ knowing, brothers and sisters, beloved by God, His choice of you; ⁵ for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sakes. ⁶ You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word during great affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸ For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place the news of your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything. ⁹ For they themselves report about us as to the kind of reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come.

2 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our reception among you was not in vain, ² but after we had already suffered and been treated abusively in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. ³ For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; ⁴ but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not intending to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts. ⁵ For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is our witness— ⁶ nor did we seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though we could have asserted our authority as apostles of Christ. ⁷ But we proved to be gentle among you. As a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children, ⁸ in the same way we had a fond affection for you and were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

Today’s text says: Our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not intending to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is our witness— nor did we seek honor from people, either from you or from others. These words would be good guidelines for those who are entrusted with the gospel today. Many though miss the mark, some seeking to please people, some seeking honor from them, others for greed. 2 Timothy 4:1-4 says: I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths. It is easier to fill a church if the preaching tickles the ears of the people rather than correcting, rebuking, exhorting and instructing. The gospel means good news, but it is only good for those who hear and respond in obedience. God’s word is not something that we can pick and choose the parts we like while disregarding the rest. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says: All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work. Scripture is meant for our good, but even more it is to train us in righteousness and equip us for every good work that God has for us.

In Acts 1:8 Jesus says: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”  When a witness is sworn in at a trial or legal proceeding, they swear to tell the whole truth. If we are witnesses for Christ, then we too must tell the whole truth. In yesterday’s text in Colossians 4:6 it said: Your speech must always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. Grace does not tolerate or embrace sin. By God’s grace, through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross, we were forgiven for our sin. So, our speech should not be about tolerance of sin, but rather about the redeeming power of the cross. We are to speak the truth in love, but it must be the whole truth. John 3:16 is one of the most often cited verses in all of the Bible. Jesus says: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.”   That is the truth, but verses 17-21 tell the whole truth. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. But the one who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds will be revealed as having been performed in God.”

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit, by Your power, may I be Your witness. May I speak the whole truth of Your word. May I never seek the approval of people but rather Your approval. May I not seek the honor of people, but rather give all honor to You. May I be ready in season and out of season, so that I will know how to respond to each person in love and grace. Amen.