1 Thessalonians 2 - 3.5.24

SCRIPTURE:  1 Thessalonians 2:7 “Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children.”

OBSERVATION:  Paul was such an excellent role model to the church because he was so good at imitating Jesus. Shortly after he and Silas had planted this church, they were forced to flee to avoid being persecuted. Later on, Paul sent Timothy back to check on them, and Paul received a glowing report from him about how well they were growing in their faith. Paul’s teaching, and the way he had modeled Christ’s attributes, had paid off big time! The good news inspired Paul to write these letters of encouragement to the church.

APPLICATION:  The church in Thessalonica began in persecution, and the struggle continued. Paul stated that after he, Silas, and Timothy had previously suffered and had been treated outrageously in Philippi that God had emboldened them to speak the gospel of God to them in spite of great opposition. Even after they had suffered, it was important that they didn’t become a burden to the apostles, but instead they were “gentle among them, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children”.  They modeled endurance of hope as they spent an extended period of time with them, and after sharing the gospel, they shared their lives as a labor of love, and work of faith.  

PRAYER:  I pray like Paul that I will be an imitator of Christ, and a light in this dark world. I pray my life will be a model of faith, hope, and love in my home, and in the church, and even when I go through life’s challenges, difficulties, trials, and sufferings that I will be found standing firm in the Lord as I continue building my trust and hope in Him.

-   Robin Orefice