1 Thessalonians 2

1 Thessalonians 2
Paul encourages the believers to develop several qualities. He and his companions were examples of these qualities.

• Be faithful to God. vv. 1-6 Paul and his party had been faithful to bring the Good News to the Thessalonians even though Paul had been imprisoned and suffered much at Philippi. Paul emphasized that they wanted to please God, not people. God alone knows the motives of our hearts. Paul was not motivated by money or by human praise.
• Be gentle. vv.7-9 Paul and friends treated the Thessalonians kindly and with compassion. They shared God's Word and their own lives with them.
• Be blameless. vv. 10-12. Paul and his companions were devout, honest, and faultless. (Of course, no one is perfect, but they had a godly testimony.) They cared about the welfare of the Thessalonian believers in the same way that a good father feels about his children. He protects them and watches over them and provides for them and encourages them until they are mature enough to live on their own. This is how we as more mature believers should treat new believers.
• Be thankful. v. 13. Paul was thankful that the Thessalonians fully believed and received his message as the very word of God--which it is! And God's Word continues to do its work.
• Be strong. vv. 14-16. The Thessalonians remained strong for the Lord even when they suffered persecution. Believers today are still being persecuted, sometimes, as we hear often in the Middle East and other places, even paying with their lives for their Christian witness. They are in good company as the prophets, along with believers in all generations, and even Jesus Himself have been persecuted and killed. We can be sure God sees all of this, and He is pleased with His faithful followers but certainly NOT pleased with the persecutors.
• Be hopeful and joyful. vv. 17-20 Paul loved these believers fervently. He longed to see them again but Satan in some way prevented it. Though he was disappointed about this, he looked forward to standing before the Lord Jesus when He returns. The presence of these dear believers there with the Lord would be Paul's proud reward and crown. They were his pride and joy!