...how to live the Christian life...

“1 You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, 2 but though we had already suffered and been shamefully maltreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. 3 For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; 6 nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, 7 though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. 8 So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

9 You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was towards you believers. 11 As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, 12 urging and encouraging you and pleading that you should lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory” 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12.

Dear friends, Paul says these wonderfully supportive words to each of us: “…we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God…” (v.4)…“we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children…” (v.7)…“so deeply do we care for you…” (v.8)…“we urged and encouraged you and pleaded that you should lead a life worthy of God…” (v.12). These words help us know how Christians ought to relate to others, and on what foundation we ought to build our friendships. I wish married couples would relate to one another in these ways as well: gently and tenderly caring deeply for one another, and always encouragingly, striving to lead a life worthy of God. We should also try to speak in ways that always please God. 

One of the things Paul teaches us and one of the things he and the early church leaders struggled with was how to live in this new Christian way, a way that is different than the ways we may have lived yesterday. Being Christian must show up in our relationships, and when we fail, we must forgive and return to living our life as Christians ought to live.

I hope this passage in chapter 2 of 2 Thessalonians is instructive in your hearts. Pray today for the Holy Spirit to fill your heart with the grace of God. 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.