Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

July 3
Thursday


TENDER
LOVING CARE

READ:
1 Thessalonians 2:1-7
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We were gentle among
you, just as a nursing
mother cherishes
her own children.
__1 Thessalonians 2:1-7
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Max runs a small farm as a hobby. Recently when he checked on the cows he is raising, he was surprised to see a newborn calf! When he bought the cattle, he had no idea one was pregnant. Sadly, the mother cow had complications and died shortly after her calf was born. Immediately Max purchased some powdered milk so he could feed the calf from a bottle "the calf thinks I'm its mother!" Max said.

The tender story of Max's new role with the calf reminded me of how Paul likened himself to a caring mother in dealing with the believers at Thessalonica: "We were gentle among you," he said, "just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children" (1 Thess. 2:7).

Paul adopted a nurturing attitude when teaching people. He knew believers needed the "milk of the word" for spiritual growth (1 Peter 2:2). But he also gave special attention to the concerns of those he cared for. "We dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,: Paul said, "encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God" (1 Thess. 2:11-12 NIV).

As we serve each other, may we serve with the tender loving care of our Savior, encouraging each other in our spiritual journey (Heb. 10:24). __Dennis Fisher

```````````````````Dear Lord, help me to be sensitive`````````````````````
``````````````````````and caring as I serve others.```````````````````````
````````````````Help me to love others tenderly as You```````````````````
```````````````````so tenderly love and care for me.`````````````````````
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God pours His love into our hearts
to flow out to others' lives.

******************************Today's bible Reading __ 1 Thessalonians 2:1-7***************************

1 For you yourselves know,
brethren, that our coming to
you was not in vain. 2 But
even after we had suffered
before and were spitefully
treated at Philippi, as you
know, we were bold in our
God to speak to you the
gospel of God in much
conflict. 3 For our
exhortation did not come
from error or uncleanness,
nor was it in deceit. 4 But as
we have been approved by
God to be entrusted with
the gospel, even so we
speak, not as pleasing men,
but God who tests our
hearts. 5 For neither at any
time did we use flattering
words, as you know, nor a
cloak for covetousness__
God is witness. 6 Nor did
we seek glory from men,
either from you or from
others, when we might have
made demands as apostles
of Christ. 7 But we were
gentle among you, just as a
nursing mother cherishes
her own children.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Because of the severity of Paul's words in battling false teachings
and correcting sinful conduct, he often comes across as devoid
of tenderness, gentleness, or compassion (1 Cor. 16:22; Gal. 1:8_
9; Phil. 3:2; Tim. 4:14-15; Titus 3:10). But there is a gentle and
tender side of Paul that is equally evident in his letters 1 Cor. 2:3;
2 Cor. 10:1; Gal. 6:1; 2 Tim. 2:24-25). In 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8,
Paul shows parental qualities such as gentleness and love. In verses
11-12, he encourages and comforts his spiritual children urging
them to live holy lives