The Love that Paul had

Over the last few weeks I have been spending my quiet time reading Paul’s letters to the church of the Thessalonians. This church seems to be very dear to Paul. The way Paul writes to this church is a way that shows his deep love for the people but yet because of his love for them he is sometimes very blunt but yet he always seems to encourage them as he exposes them to truth. I am most captivated by 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. (take some time and read it for yourselves before you continue in this journal entry)

Here we find Paul confessing that even though he faced much opposition he knew the gospel had to be preached. I’m not sure what the opposition was that Paul was facing at the time but we do know that after being mistreated and suffering Paul still had faith and boldly proclaimed the gospel. As I think about this and I put myself in Paul’s shoes how would I react? Would the gospel still be the number one thing I would want to speak after being mistreated and facing some kind of suffering? What about you? To me Paul knew this one thing and that is in comfort or in suffering the gospel must be preached! Paul could preach about many things: the sins of the people, how to remain in unity, how to tame the tongue but he didn’t preach about any of those instead he proclaimed the gospel with boldness knowing that the good news is the only thing that will bring this church hope, unity, and convictions that will lead to transformation.

Paul didn’t preach with deceitful words but Paul preached knowing that he has been “approved and entrusted by God” to preach the gospel. Paul knew that he was preaching not for his own glory but for the glory of God. He knew the authority he had to preach came from God and being sent Paul knew the only person he had to please was the sender Himself (God). Paul’s desire was not to please the people but his desire was to please God “who examines our hearts.” Paul knew that God looks into the heart of the person and knows where a person is coming from. He (Paul) didn’t want God to see him preaching for the gratification of men but wanted God to see that he preached for the glory of God and that is why even in the midst of opposition and suffering Paul knew he had to preach the gospel, he knew it pleased God.

Paul knew how he had to preach to this church. That means that Paul knew his audience. Paul had to be gentle with this church “as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children” To me this means Paul had to get to know these people to know how they will react to his preaching. How he did this, I don’t know but I know for this church he had to be gentle with them. From reading Paul’s other letters to other churches I wouldn’t think of Paul as a gentle preacher. In this letter though Paul sepecifies how he had to be with this specific church he had to be gentle and yet Paul proclaims how found he is of them. He feels like a father among the people.

I love how this chapter ends. This is my favorite part. “For you are our glory and joy.” Who? The brethren (the church). As I think about what that looks like, for Paul it wasn’t his preaching to be known, it wasn’t even for people to know about this church, his hearts desire was for people! It pleased Paul to say what brought him joy was the church and seeing the people of the church hear, know, and grow in the gospel. WOW!! In the end it wasn’t about Paul and the opposition he had to face and the suffering he already faced, it was all about helping a community of people. It was all about the Love for this church.
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HAVE YOU KNOWN A LOVE LIKE THIS?

humans can argue about many things but i believe that every human being has this one desire, that is the desire to be loved. love is funny, we desire it but when someone demonstrates love we sometimes want to push them away. for example: when i was younger i remember when my parents wouldn't let me go do certain things or hang out with certain people and they always responded the same way, "you don't understand it now but one day you'll realize i said no because i love you." really? if you loved me wouldn't you let me do what i wanted when i wanted so i could be out hanging around people i like and doing things i wanted to do? love makes us do crazy things. i remember a time when i was 16 i was dating a girl and i took her and two of her friends to a country music concert, i paid for all the tickets, food, and i think i might have even bought shirts for them the funny thing is i didn't even like country music at the time. you hear about people doing crazy things in the name of love all the time. people will commit murder, they will stalk people, some people will even fly planes into buildings or strap bombs on themselves because they love their god so much. to me that is crazy!! i find in the scriptures a love unlike any other. a love so crazy that it is almost unimaginable. Romans 5:6&8 "for while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. but God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." do you hear those words? read them over and over again. Christ died for the ungodly that is for you and me. He didn't die for the people that loved him and pursued Him no He died for sinners, the ungodly people, He died for His enemies, He died for the people who hated Him. He didn't just die, He died at the right time the scriptures tell us.He died while we were helpless like a young child. The scriptures tell us so clearly that God doesn't just speak His love toward us but He demonstrates it by dieing for us while we were sinners. No He didn't send us away and tell us to clean up first, He died for you and me. I leave you with this question tonight. Do you know a love like that? The good news is if you don't you can. He died so you and I can have life. think about experiencing a love like you've always desired to have, hear His words and know His love has been demonstrated by His blood! AMEN