This morning I felt like I should read from Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. These verses are interesting in focus - 1 Thessalonians 3:2-5 NIV:
[2] "We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, [3] so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. [4] In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. [5] For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain."
The issue that Paul is discussing here is the persecution and struggles that they were experiencing, and the response of the people in Thessaloniaca upon hearing about those struggles. Paul understood that the message of the Gospel, the Good News) can sometimes become confused with a message of - 'only good things will happen now that they have experienced salvation'. In our modern church we have the proponents of the prosperity gospel which is somewhat related. There is a false belief that the signs of God's favor are directly tied to physical blessings. Boiling this thought down to a simplification - If a person is blessed financially than God loves them, if not, then they are likely in sin somehow. Paul is speaking about persecution, but the thinking can be the same.
The other thought line is accusing God of not protecting His sons and daughters and somehow becoming offended at God. This is often the thought of those going through struggles or difficulty. I know if I am in a difficult situation, I am tempted to think this way, and its a very dangerous path. We know that satan is the accuser, we find his lies laid out and exposed even in the story of Adam and Eve, and he is always accusing God. Thinking that God is causing trouble is a complete lie concerning the nature or ability of God, and it is rooted in the thought that God is somehow like us. Nothing could be nothing further from the truth, we are like God, not the other way around. He is all-powerful, all-knowing and always loving and good. The struggles we find ourselves in are not rooted in the plans of God, but rather in the sinfulness of human kind, and the efforts of the enemy to destroy and kill the things of God.
Paul was right to teach people that difficult times would come, persecutions would come, and we are all likely destined for similar experiences. This might not sound like Good News, but that is a very limited view. We have an eternal destiny. We have a God who has paid the price for our sinfulness, who has made a way for us to Heaven, who has come to live in us, who provides His power and understanding to us, and who is always with us, even in the midst of struggle. We have the unique opportunity to be co-heirs with Christ and His representatives of the Kingdom. We are called to do the same things Jesus demonstrated, and see God work through us in power and authority. Our lives will make a significant difference in the world. Anyone who is a world changer knows that there will be those that resist and struggles to overcome. We are not called to a life of ease and comfort, but rather of power and significance.
Amen Lord, help us and strengthen us.
No comments:
Post a Comment