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24 May ' 15:56
Part 6 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.
1 Thessalonians 2:7
The apostle Paul has already made it very clear that he is not trying to please men. Some might conclude that his ministry was rather matter of fact. He could disengage from relational ministry and simply present the truth. Nothing could be farther from the truth.While it is absolutely true that his ministry was not man-pleasing, it is also true that it was based on a genuine love and care for people. Paul was committed to teaching the truth as God has given it because he knew that is exactly what people needed to hear. Even if they despised the message, he was going to give it. His hope and prayer was that people would respond to the message and become followers of Christ.
The picture in verse 7 is precious. What more beautiful picture could the apostle use? While Paul had no physical children of his own, the care and concern that he demonstrated for people was like a mom and her own newborn baby. A mom learns quickly about the special needs of her child. She keeps him warm and feeds him with delicate care. She keeps him clean and protects him from danger. She quickly wakes in the night with the slightest whimper.
Paul was not harsh or impatient with people. His ministry reflected a gentleness that is like this mom. His concern was genuine and his ministry was faithful even in the midst of the most difficult of situations. He was engaged with people, not secluded to his study with little thought of the individual needs and concerns of those he served.
Paul says he “proved to be gentle ” In other words, this is not theoretical; the people of Thessalonica would affirm Paul’s care and concern. It is one thing for us to make a claim such as this; it is another for our congregations to describe us in such a way!
As we serve the Lord this week, how would we describe our care for the people who have been entrusted to our care? Could we use this picture of a mom with her precious newborn baby? How would our congregations describe us?
Might the Lord help us to love people as He does!
2010-05-24 Ministry Defined, Part 5, Rocky Wyatt, 2010-05-17
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