Living in the Spirit

October 23, 2020

Scripture Reading:
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, 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. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, 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. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, 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. 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.

I had to read this scripture three times before I comprehended its fullness. I would read a few phrases, and my mind would drift off on some horrible campaign ad I had just turned off full of half-truths and innuendo. I was already concerned about the latest COVID-19 numbers just released on the news. We live in times of high frustration.

Paul and his crew arrived in Thessalonica after departing Philippi, where they were shamefully maltreated. The situation was different in Thessalonica. The visiting evangelists were welcomed by a people who were also dealing with challenging issues, but who allowed Paul and his group to love them in the way these travelers longed to share Christ’s abundant love with others.

We have lost sight of the meaning of the word evangelists in our world today. It means sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. The good news does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery. Never comes with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed. The politics of faith is a travesty. The understanding that wealth is God’s outward approval of one’s salvation is heresy.

All Christ-followers must evaluate their lives individually and as communities of faith carefully to consider if we are sharing Christ’s good news or our self-righteous ideas of what Jesus surely meant to say. Repentance results in redemption when we realign with Jesus Christ’s righteousness..

Prayer: Lord of All, open our hearts and minds to the truth that we have forsaken. Forgive us and guide us back through your Spirit to following you. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.