Share your life

God has made some verses of 1 Thessalonians alive for me. Like many pastors, I studied Paul hoping to glean the secrets of a work for Christ so powerfully effective. I already knew his immutable message: the gospel of Jesus Christ. I had also analyzed his methodology : it depended solely on the Holy Spirit. He was led daily and strengthened by the power of the Spirit.

But then, a third truth started jumping out of the pages of my New Testament : Paul's motivation. In reminding the believers of his visit to Thessalonica, which resulted in their conversion and the founding of a Church of Christ, Paul said : "We could have produced ourselves with authority as apostles of Christ, but we have been full of gentleness in the midst of you. Just as a nurse takes care of her children" (1 Thessalonians 2: 6-7). The image rendered here in the original Greek version is that of a mother cradling her baby. What a tender image of love and devotion. When a mother takes care of her child, she only takes care of the baby, not her. Paul declares that this is how he behaved when he was in the midst of them: all his attention and all his concerns were for them, not for him. The apostle's motivation was a fervent love for the Thessaloniki believers, which could only be explained by the love of God Himself who controlled it.

But then he goes further : "We would have wanted, in our strong affection for you, not only to give you the Gospel of God, but also our own lives, so dear had you become to us" (2: 8).

"We loved you so much," said Paul, "that we did not only want to share the gospel with you, but also our life !"

No wonder Paul's message reached the hearts of people. His words did not come only from his mouth, but also from his tender heart. What could make a pastor not only give messages to people, but also his life ? It's love - God's love !

Jim Cymbala