The Future According to GodSample

1 THESSALONIANS 2: Entrusted with the Gospel

1 Thessalonians 2, Paul shares that he, Silas, and Timothy were entrusted with the gospel. They shared it in Thessalonica, and people converted to Christianity. Do you think you are entrusted with the gospel? Are you sharing it? Please read or listen to 1 Thessalonians 2.

COMMENTS

In 1992, I read 1 Thessalonians 1 and 2 on the same day. Concerning chapter 2, I wrote, "How to act: devoutly, uprightly, and blamelessly. Walk in a manner worthy of God. Word of God, not the word of men."

In looking through my journal in 1993, I have a confession to make. I noticed I read 1 Thessalonians 1 on a Friday, and I read 1 Thessalonians 2 on a Monday. Did I really skip two days of daily Bible reading? Yes, I confess, I did miss a few days over four decades of Bible reading. These journals reveal this to me and you.

On Saturday mornings, I often go to a Gideon prayer breakfast where we read a portion of scripture. So I do get my daily Bible reading in when I go to a Gideon prayer breakfast. I indicated that on this Saturday, I did enjoy a portion of God's Word. On Sunday, I actually gave a message in a church. I spoke in two services that Sunday morning, so I was in the Word in that way, but it does not appear I had a daily quiet time on that Sunday morning.

I confess these things so you can see I, too, miss a day or two once in a while. I hope that does not become an excuse for you, though. A good friend of mine once told me, “If you miss reading the scriptures on weekends, you miss a hundred days a year.” I encourage you not to take weekends off. I do not anymore, and I have not done so in decades.

Back to 1 Thessalonians 2. In 1993, I wrote, “‘But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel so we speak’ (1 Thess 2:4 NASB). Thank you, Lord, for entrusting me to speak. Help me never take it for granted or misuse the privilege." Next, "'Gentle among you' (1 Thess 2:7 NASB). Then exhort, encourage, implore." And verse 13, "God's message, 'You accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God'" (1 Thess 2:13 NASB).

In my journal in 1994, I wrote, "Need to speak the gospel amid opposition and with boldness, not as men pleasers but as God pleasers." Then I referred to 1 Thess 2:13 NASB, "A good verse to use in Gideon scripture distributions."

In chapter 2, Paul reminds the Thessalonians that as apostles, they were empowered by God to share what they shared when they were there. “As we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts” (1 Thess 2:4 ESV). That verse is very important to me. I have the chance to stand in pulpits all over the world on behalf of The Gideons International and on behalf of the Ezra Project and share with people. I have been given the privilege to be entrusted with the gospel, so I speak.

What a privilege, what an honor, even in these daily devotions, to speak to you. I have been entrusted with the Word of God, and I take it very seriously. As Paul, Silas, and Timothy shared the gospel, they did not seek glory from people; they were gentle among them. Like a nursing mother taking care of her own children, they were ready to share, not only the gospel but themselves.

Through this chapter, we can see Paul, Silas, and Timothy poured themselves out to the people of Thessalonica. “How holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers . . . We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God” (1 Thess 2:10, 12 ESV).

The people of Thessalonica received their message, “When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God” (1 Thess 2:13 ESV). That is a powerful statement about what the Bible is; not the words of men, but the Word of God.

Paul closes the chapter by reminding them they were torn away from those in Thessalonica. They had to flee. In the introduction of this book, we were reminded that the house of Jason, where Paul stayed, was ransacked, and they were run out of town. He says, “But since we were torn away from you” (1 Thess 2:17 ESV), so he reminds them of that circumstance and tells them they long to come back. But for some reason, Satan has hindered him from doing so.

DIGGING DEEPER

As we close chapter 2, let’s think about a couple of things. You have been entrusted with the gospel. Oh, you may not preach in churches. You may not speak in front of crowds. But all of us who are Christians have been entrusted with the gospel. We get opportunities to speak, not to please men but to please God.

I do not know what your family is like. I do not know what your workplace is like. I do not know if you feel pressure when you try to share the gospel with somebody. I do not know any of those things, but I know you were entrusted with the gospel.

God tests our hearts. Are we willing to stand up for the Lord? If so, we do it as instructed in this chapter. Our conduct should be holy, righteous, and blameless. Sharing our faith does not have to be argumentative. We are to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. So, for all of us who have been entrusted with the gospel, we are going to pray for boldness to share it with those around us, if God asks us to.

How did the church at Thessalonica grow? People shared their faith with others. Is your church growing? Are people in your church sharing their faith with others? Do you see people coming to Christ? Do you see new people visiting your church? Paul, Silas, and Timothy shared the gospel. That is why we get to read 1 Thessalonians today. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

Lord, we see in these first couple of chapters of 1 Thessalonians that Paul, Silas, and Timothy shared the gospel, and they were run out of town for doing so. But that did not hinder them from sharing the gospel in the next town, and the next town, and going back to some of the very places they were run out of and sharing the gospel again and again.

Lord, many of us have become complacent. Some of us have never shared the gospel with someone else. So we pray for holy boldness, Lord. As we have been entrusted with your gospel, so we speak. Holy Spirit, open doors around us so we can share what You have given to us.

Most of us care deeply about lost souls around us. Give us boldness to share our faith with someone today. Lord, as we do, remind us to be holy, righteous, and blameless before You and before those we share with. Ensure we walk in a manner worthy of the gospel we proclaim. Work through us, Lord, we do not want any glory. We want to turn the glory to You, and we know that happens as You allow us to share the gospel with someone else. To God be the glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.