16^th May

“For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.”

1 Thessalonians 2:4

When Paul, Silas and Timothy, boldly preached the Gospel to the church in Thessalonica, their intentions were simple; to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, His salvation and His soon return. There was no ulterior motive. Yet many in Macedonia, Achaia, and Thessalonica were stirring up rumours that the faithful servants of Christ, were only preaching to gain the financial support and favour of the churches, so as to discredit the core of their message. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.

Through the message of Paul, Silas and Timothy, many came to know Jesus Christ and put their trust in Him. As verse 8 of chapter 1 boldly states, ‘the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere’! The Thessalonian church was thriving because of the faithfulness shown by Paul, Silas and Timothy to boldly share about Christ, in spite of persecution and without trying to gain anything in return.

We too should take note and be challenged in our own lives, to share the Gospel of Christ with all those we meet, not for our own personal gain, but for God’s Kingdom to come in their lives. We too, have exactly the same commission as Paul and as the other followers of Christ in the New Testament. It hasn’t changed. We too speak ‘as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News’. Our role in His Kingdom is to share the Good News, not to gain popularity among Christians, or to flatter those hearing for personal gain, but rather to please God and be faithful in what He has called us to do. It is God alone that both examines our hearts in sharing, and the recipients hearts in hearing. Be faithful in what God has called you to do!