Living in the Spirit

October 27, 2023

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.

We speak not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. I copied this phrase from the above scripture, and I copied the above scripture from my online NRSV source, which follows British grammar. As I write this, I see there are four words underlined in red, denoting they are grammatically incorrect, according to my grammar checker. Most of my mistakes relate to commas. I was taught very different grammar rules in grade school than are used now. I am slowly adapting. There are three segments underlined in blue, telling me there are better ways to say the same thing. I choose which ones I change and which ones I leave alone. Who decides what is a better way to say something?

When you see the published document, you do not receive the corrections or suggestions, and thus, it appears to the reader that everything is right.  I think we communicate this way regarding how we understand the Bible. We mingle together what we think is right within the framework of what we take from the worldview of our time and claim it as our view, taking for granted it is God’s view. I think that is what Paul is saying in the above scripture. How do we discern God’s view, particularly when our worldview is far more comfortable for most of us? The hardest challenge is understanding how our ancestors, in faith, mixed their worldviews with God’s view just like we do. So, how do we differentiate their worldviews from God’s view?

I have found it helpful when trying to respond to issues I must deal with in the world to apply the test of God’s greatest commandments. Is my response in sync with loving God and loving my neighbor as I love myself? My actions must always reflect my love for God and his commandment to love others.

Prayer: Lord, commune with me so that I can respond to the challenges of our world through your way of being. 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.