Called To Be Servants

so dear our affection for you we are pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but ourselves also because you became so dear to us (1 Thessalonians 2:8)

Paul calls the church the bride of Christ and his goal is to present her in splendor and honor and purity (Ephesians 5:27). Ministers are to be as Christ "just as also Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her that he sanctifies her and cleanses her..." (Ephesians 5:25). This is how Paul gave himself up and shared himself to the church.

for you recall brother our labor and toil, working night and day for the benefit of not becoming a burden to any of you, proclaiming to the extent the gospel of God (1 Thessalonians 2:9)

The dear affection given was as a father would give a child, "to exhort and encourage you to conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of God, the one who calls you into his own kingdom and glory" (1 Thessalonians 2:9). It was not Paul's words, it was God's and those who had received did not as the words of a human but of God and that is how they knew as it was doing its work in them. Growth is from God and this is how the gospel grows; it works in some then it works in others and continues to bear fruit in all the world.

for what is our hope either joy either crown of rejoicing before our Lord in his coming? Is it not indeed also you, for you exists our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:18-20)

These are similar words as in his second letter to the Corinthians. Paul was eager to come and see their growth in Christ, he was to send Timothy to encourage them more and to see the gift of maturity in Christ that he had heard about, which is more precious in the eyes of God than silver and gold (1 Thessalonians 3:1-10). Oh, to be like Paul, to give himself up as Christ and to lay down our life, may the greatest become servants of all so to receive and to give spiritual blessings to those in need so the church is presented in spender, honor, and glory.

now, may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all just even as we do for you to the extent your hearts are blameless in holiness before our God... (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)

Oh Lord we pray, raise up men, establish them, whose hearts are blameless in your presence, so what is needed and lacking in faith will be supplied and the church is reassured when its stands firm in faith during all distress and affliction. "For this is the will of God, your holiness..." (1 Thessalonians 4:1-6)

"For God has called us not to impurity rather in holiness, for that reason the one rejecting this is not rejecting man but God who has given his Holy Spirit to you" (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8)

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