Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year OneSample

So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us (1 Thessalonians 2:8).

What sacrifices are you willing to make for others?

Paul is a rugged disciple of Jesus, but also gentle. He writes, "But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children" (1 Thessalonians 2:7). Moreover, Paul and his associates (Silas and Timothy) not only were well pleased to preach the gospel to the Thessalonians, but also would willingly lay down their lives for them. No wonder the dynamic trio witness many converts to Christ. They imitate their Lord and Savior by sacrificing themselves for the benefit of others. No wonder Paul, Silas, and Timothy are characterized by the unbelievers at Thessalonica by the following: "these who have turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6).

Employment Point: Turn the world upside down through self-sacrifice and a gentle spirit.