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Back in biblical times, there was a land called Thessalonica. Where would Thessalonica be today? If you said eastern Greece, you'd be correct. It was a town on the Aegean Sea.
In these two books of Thessalonians, you will find outstanding practical Christian living. Most of it deals with how to treat one another as Christians. This post deals with Pauls feelings toward the people God had given him to reach with the gospel.
Paul is eager to show his passion for his fellow Christians. He tells them in 1 Thes. 2:7 "...but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children." Then he continues on saying "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us."
Meditate on that for a while. Paul's extreme passion to reach the Thessalonians by teaching and reaching them with the Word, was manifested by his love for the people over there. That love is the same love that drives today's missionaries. He was concerned for the people God placed in his hands.
When Paul was away, he had a deep desire to go to them again. Paul had a longing to see the Thessalonians. Paul wanted to be there and minister. In 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20, Paul drives that point home. Paul was writing and said, "But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, did, again and again--but Satan stopped us. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
Notice how Satan always is against God's plan. We know Paul tried, but at the time it wasn't in God's timing. However, Satan wanted to always keep Paul away from the Thessalonians because he knew that Paul had a powerful impact there for God. He spread the love that God had given him to the Thessalonians.
It's the same today. The supernatural love that God displays is what Satan hates. Satan displayed that hate in Paul's time and ours as well. Satan hates Christian ministry because it thwarts his hopes of keeping the lost, lost. He hates the missionary ministry because it brings the Bible to people who would have never known it existed. Christians are chosen to serve in all countries, cultures, and in different fields of ministry. Which one depends on what Christ has laid upon the heart of that individual Christian.
So, we can take a lesson from Paul. Whether or not it's in a jungle setting somewhere or right here in front of the computer screen on the internet, we can make an impact to a lost world and that's EXACTLY what God wants.
In these two books of Thessalonians, you will find outstanding practical Christian living. Most of it deals with how to treat one another as Christians. This post deals with Pauls feelings toward the people God had given him to reach with the gospel.
Paul is eager to show his passion for his fellow Christians. He tells them in 1 Thes. 2:7 "...but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children." Then he continues on saying "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us."
Meditate on that for a while. Paul's extreme passion to reach the Thessalonians by teaching and reaching them with the Word, was manifested by his love for the people over there. That love is the same love that drives today's missionaries. He was concerned for the people God placed in his hands.
When Paul was away, he had a deep desire to go to them again. Paul had a longing to see the Thessalonians. Paul wanted to be there and minister. In 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20, Paul drives that point home. Paul was writing and said, "But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you--certainly I, Paul, did, again and again--but Satan stopped us. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
Notice how Satan always is against God's plan. We know Paul tried, but at the time it wasn't in God's timing. However, Satan wanted to always keep Paul away from the Thessalonians because he knew that Paul had a powerful impact there for God. He spread the love that God had given him to the Thessalonians.
It's the same today. The supernatural love that God displays is what Satan hates. Satan displayed that hate in Paul's time and ours as well. Satan hates Christian ministry because it thwarts his hopes of keeping the lost, lost. He hates the missionary ministry because it brings the Bible to people who would have never known it existed. Christians are chosen to serve in all countries, cultures, and in different fields of ministry. Which one depends on what Christ has laid upon the heart of that individual Christian.
So, we can take a lesson from Paul. Whether or not it's in a jungle setting somewhere or right here in front of the computer screen on the internet, we can make an impact to a lost world and that's EXACTLY what God wants.
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