Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

April 1
Wednesday


SERVANT-
FRIENDSHIP

READ:
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
____________________________________________________

We were gentle among
you, just as a nursing
mother cherishes her
own children.
__1 Thessalonians 2:7
____________________________________________________

Don Tack wanted to know what life was like for homeless people. So he concealed his identity and went to live on the streets of his city. He found out that food and shelter were offered by many organizations. At one shelter he could spend the night if he listened to a sermon beforehand. He appreciated the guest speaker's message and wanted to talk with him afterward. But as Don reached out to shake the man's hand and asked if he could talk with him, the speaker walked right past him as if he didn't exist.

Don learned that what was missing most in ministry to the homeless in his area were people who were willing to build relationships. So he began an organization called Servants Center to offer help through friendship.

What Don encountered at the shelter was the opposite of what the people who heard the apostle Paul experienced. When he shared the gospel, he gave himself too. He testified in his letter to the Thessalonians, "We were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us" (1 Thess. 2:8). He said, "We were gentle among you," like a mother (v.7).

In our service for the Lord, do we share not just our words or money but our time and friendship? __Anne Cetas
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`````````````I want to do service for Christ while I live,`````````````
``````````And comfort and cheer to poor lonely hearts give;``````````
````````````For this is the program approved by the Word,```````````
``````````To visit the needy and speak of the Lord. __Bosch````````
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One measure of our likeness to Christ
is our sensitivity to the suffering of others.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8*******

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 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. 8 So,
affectionately longing for
you, we were well pleased
to impart to you not only
the gospel of God, but also
our own lives, because you
Had become dear to us.

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

In his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, Paul is dealing with
a variety of issues in the life of the church. In chapter 2, the main
theme seems to be what the heart of a spiritual shepherd should
reflect. We see a pastor's basic ministry methods: boldness in
evangelism (vv.1-2), purity in teaching (vv.3-5), and compassion in
caring (vv.7-8). __Bill Crowder

[realtmg]

Very True!