Perhaps this may seem obvious, but the Bible is not silent about what it takes to please God.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:1-14, Paul tells us what he did to live a life that brings God pleasure. Here we read of what Paul and his companions (Silvanus and Timothy) did in Thessalonica that made God happy. Two themes stand out:
1. He spoke the Word of God
Note how often Paul mentions this simple act of verbally communicating God’s truth.
He declared the gospel (v. 3)
He made an appeal that contained no error, impurity, or deception (v. 3)
He spoke these words in order to please God rather than man (v. 4)
His speech contained no words of flattery (v. 5)
He shared the gospel (v. 8)
He proclaimed the gospel (v. 9)
He exhorted, encouraged, and charged the Thessalonians to live in a manner worthy of God (v. 12)
2. He lived a holy and righteous life
Likewise, the passage mentions Paul’s conduct repeatedly.
He was not motivated by greed (v. 5)
He did not seek glory from people (v. 6)
He made no demands of the people (v. 6)
He was gentle, like a mother caring for her children (v. 7)
He didn’t just share the gospel; he shared his very life with them (v. 8)
He worked day and night, to avoid being a burden to them (v. 9)
His conduct was holy, righteous, and blameless (v. 10)
He treated them like a father treats his children (v. 12)
Paul’s ministry was a ministry of both words and deeds. And what were the results?
Because the Thessalonians heard the Word, they received it and accepted it not as the word of men but as the Word of God (v. 13). They became true believers and were imitators of the first churches that were planted in Judea (v. 14). And all this happened while they suffered persecution from the Gentile non-believers (v. 14).
Here we have the model of a ministry that was empowered by God. Because Paul gave them the Word and his very life, God was pleased and lives were changed. Two thousand years later, may we follow the example of Paul and do the same in our homes and communities.
You need not be an apostle, or a close associate of an apostle, to have this type of ministry and this kind of life. In the New Testament, all believers are viewed as “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Questions for Reflection
1. What opportunities does God give you to speak His Word to people in your sphere of influence? Make a list of all the individuals that you come into contact with regularly, even daily: family members, friends, co-workers, and other acquaintances.
2. What opportunities does God give you every day to do deeds of mercy for others? Again, you probably don’t have to look far.
3. Over the past year or so, how have you seen God at work in the lives of people you know? What role did you, and other believers with whom you associate, have in this work? Offer thanks and praise to God for this!
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