Posted in Thessalonians on July 25, 2009|
This past week we’ve looked at 1 Thessalonians.
There are three things that really hit me as I read this book hope, mentoring and Christlikeness. I’ll take them in reverse order
Christlikeness
This whole year I’ve been having what can only be described as an ephiphany experience. It’s all linked with the concept of belonging, believing and behaving. I’ve written about these in length over at my blog but as I read 1 Thess I am reminded that our behaviour is changed, our character is re-formed by our relationship with Jesus. If you haven’t read John Burke’s book No Perfect People allowed … what’s keeping you? I highly recommend it. It really made me think about how often we demand behaviour of not-yet Christians rather than welcoming them into relationship with Jesus. He’s the one that gives growth. (1 Cor 3: 5-6). I also recommend Stuart Murray’s chapter on BBB which you can read online here
Mentoring
If you’re sat at home wishing you had a mentor then you’re not alone. The sad truth is that so many Christians are not being mentored – there is no-one mentoring us like Paul mentored the gaggle of believers in Thessalnika. Right? Wrong? One of Paul’s complaints in this letter is that he’s frustrated because he’s not there in person to encourage them. He writes to them instead. There’s something in that I think. You might be housebound. You might be lacking in Christian friends who you can meet with. Yourpastor might have a gift other than mentoring. Whatever it is … God’s plan is both that you would be mentored (and the Bible supplemented by good Christian books is a good place to start). I’m also reminded Paul sends them Timothy. Who is he sending to you?
Paul also blesses them with the encouraging words that they are to encourage one another. In today’s language that might be “speak into one another’s lives”. If there isn’t a small group in your area – couldn’t you – yes you – invite 1-2 other people to seek God together. What happens might just blow you away. I’m constantly reminded nowadays that what Paul writes is so easy to do in small groups (because he was writing to small groups) and it’s so much harder to make it work within an institutional framework (i.e. church as we know it)
Hope
What I got most from reading 1 Thessalonians was the sense of hope.
The intro to this book in my copy of the Message reads
Whe way we conceive the future sculpts the present, gives contour and tone to nearly every action and thought through the day. If our sense of future is weak, we live listlessly. Much emotional and mental illness and most suicides occur among men and women who feel they have no hope
We have hope -you and I. It comes in the form of Jesus. However we believe the second coming will happen (and that’s part of the theme in 1 Thess that I haven’t talked about much) – the escatological hope – we know we have a bright future because of Jesus. We know that death is not the end, that, as the Hillsongs song goes “Jesus conquered the Grave”, but we can also expect that life through the Spirit of Jesus for here and now. That’s what Paul addresses in this book. We have a hope and future.
On Monday we’ll start looking at the second letter Paul wrote to the Thessalonians. It’s going to be great!
Until then be blessed
-stf
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