Having such a deep affection for you, we were delighted to share with you not only God’s good news but also our own lives, because you had become so very dear to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 AMP
The Apostle Paul was a man on a mission! Before meeting Christ, he was persecuting the Christian community full throttle. Nothing could stop this zealot from cleansing the land of what he perceived as a blight and religious apostasy. He was thoroughly committed to his mission that he was willing to risk everything traveling to faraway places to accomplish his task. Then, he met Christ! In the letter to the Galatians he wrote,
“11For I want you to know, [d]believers, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel [it is not a human invention, patterned after any human concept]. 12For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a [direct] revelation of Jesus Christ. 13You have heard of my career and former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to hunt down and persecute the church of God extensively and [with fanatical zeal] tried [my best] to destroy it. 14And [you have heard how] I surpassed many of my contemporaries among my countrymen in [my advanced study of the laws of] Judaism, as I was extremely loyal to the traditions of my ancestors. 15But when God, who had chosen me and set me apart before I was born, and called me through His grace, was pleased 16to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles [as the good news--the way of salvation], I did not immediately consult with anyone [for guidance regarding God’s call and His revelation to me].
Galatians 1:11-16 AMP
Paul was driven to persecution of the church because he was committed to what he believed it was what God wanted Him to do. Once he had an encounter with God, he knew his mission had changed! Now, he would apply that same zeal and commitment to preaching the love of Christ to those in need! There was no option in his mind, he must complete that for which Christ died for him! What about you?
Look at how strong the words of the Apostle are in the opening verse,
Having such a deep affection for you, we were delighted to share with you not only God’s good news but also our own lives, because you had become so very dear to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 AMP
Paul was driven by a deep affection for them that it drove him to share not only the Gospel but his own life! That of course is proven not only by his total commitment to the Gospel but the giving even of his own life for the sake of the Gospel in Rome. Jesus gave us clear marching orders,
18Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually--regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20 AMP
The order is clear and direct! There is no excuse for the believer to be involved in anything above the mission of reaching the lost. There are other things that must be done but none more important than getting out the Word! The church today has become consumed with itself. It has lost the fervent zeal that consumed those that have gone before us. It looks mostly inward and has lost the vision of reaching the lost in favor of soothing the saints.
People need discipled. Saints need served and cared. All this activity though should lead to the development of those who are willing and able to go into the world seeking and saving the lost and give a defense for the hope that is within them!
I encourage you today to refocus your efforts and energy. The only thing of eternal value is a soul that has been saved. Give yourself to the call and watch God do amazing things with your life!
"Our Own Lives"
Having such a deep affection for you, we were delighted to share with you not only God’s good news but also our own lives, because you had become so very dear to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 AMP
The Apostle Paul was a man on a mission! Before meeting Christ, he was persecuting the Christian community full throttle. Nothing could stop this zealot from cleansing the land of what he perceived as a blight and religious apostasy. He was thoroughly committed to his mission that he was willing to risk everything traveling to faraway places to accomplish his task. Then, he met Christ! In the letter to the Galatians he wrote,
“11For I want you to know, [d]believers, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel [it is not a human invention, patterned after any human concept]. 12For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a [direct] revelation of Jesus Christ. 13You have heard of my career and former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to hunt down and persecute the church of God extensively and [with fanatical zeal] tried [my best] to destroy it. 14And [you have heard how] I surpassed many of my contemporaries among my countrymen in [my advanced study of the laws of] Judaism, as I was extremely loyal to the traditions of my ancestors. 15But when God, who had chosen me and set me apart before I was born, and called me through His grace, was pleased 16to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles [as the good news--the way of salvation], I did not immediately consult with anyone [for guidance regarding God’s call and His revelation to me].
Galatians 1:11-16 AMP
Paul was driven to persecution of the church because he was committed to what he believed it was what God wanted Him to do. Once he had an encounter with God, he knew his mission had changed! Now, he would apply that same zeal and commitment to preaching the love of Christ to those in need! There was no option in his mind, he must complete that for which Christ died for him! What about you?
Look at how strong the words of the Apostle are in the opening verse,
Having such a deep affection for you, we were delighted to share with you not only God’s good news but also our own lives, because you had become so very dear to us.
1 Thessalonians 2:8 AMP
Paul was driven by a deep affection for them that it drove him to share not only the Gospel but his own life! That of course is proven not only by his total commitment to the Gospel but the giving even of his own life for the sake of the Gospel in Rome. Jesus gave us clear marching orders,
18Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually--regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20 AMP
The order is clear and direct! There is no excuse for the believer to be involved in anything above the mission of reaching the lost. There are other things that must be done but none more important than getting out the Word! The church today has become consumed with itself. It has lost the fervent zeal that consumed those that have gone before us. It looks mostly inward and has lost the vision of reaching the lost in favor of soothing the saints.
People need discipled. Saints need served and cared. All this activity though should lead to the development of those who are willing and able to go into the world seeking and saving the lost and give a defense for the hope that is within them!
I encourage you today to refocus your efforts and energy. The only thing of eternal value is a soul that has been saved. Give yourself to the call and watch God do amazing things with your life!
Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken