PROCLAMATION
“For you
know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,
encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls
you into His kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (NIV)
EXPLANATION
These words
were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of
God, to the believers in the church at Thessalonica. In this second
chapter, Paul offers an account of his ministry among them and describes the
nature and success of it. (1 Thessalonians 2:1-6) He mentions how he
treated them when he was with them. (1 Thessalonians 2:7-10) He said that
he encouraged them, comforted them, and urged them to live worthy of God.
Then he said that he thanked God that they received the gospel as The Word of
God and that they also began to spread The Word. (1 Thessalonians
2:13-14) He ended this chapter of his letter by stating that he wanted to
visit them, but Satan had prevented that from happening. (1 Thessalonians 2:18)
APPLICATION
As
believers we should cling closely to The Lord God. We should seek comfort
in, and be encouraged by, The Holy Word of God. We should also be
committed to live a life which would be pleasing to God. We should treat
one another and speak to one another with loving kindness. We should
build each other up and not tear each other down. When we point out
errors or shortcomings, we should do so in private with caring constructive
corrections, and it should be done out of love for one another. We should
walk worthy and we should encourage others to also walk worthy. (Ephesians 4:1
and 1 Thessalonians 2:12) We have the power to do so, we just need to
exercise the commitment and do it. (John 1:12) We should do it willingly,
joyfully, carefully, and with loving kindness.
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