Open the Bible UK Daily

Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith.1 Thessalonians 3:6Jesus told a story about two men who built houses—one on rock, the other on sand (Mat. 7:24-27). Then a storm came. One house stood; the other collapsed. Suffering is the storm that reveals the foundation of your life. When you suffer, the idol of comfort is cast down.When your faith is under fire, your first job is to stand firm in the Lord. Some Christians think God expects them to have perfect peace and be full of joy. But that is not what God asks. What He asks of you in trials and temptation is to stand firm (see Eph. 6:11).Notice the impact these Thessalonians had on Paul: “Brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith” (3:7). Never underestimate the impact of your standing firm in the faith.Those who suffer and stand firm have one of the most important ministries in the church. Think about what people in your congregation have faced—loss, serious illness, a child with special needs, disappointment. They need to see that you too struggle, you question, you are exhausted, yet you love Christ, you persevere.There is only one explanation—your faith is an authentic work of God. If your faith was built on sand it would have collapsed long ago. Thank God for His grace and mercy. What He has begun, He will complete.And those in the church who see you and love you say with Paul, “What thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake?” (3:9). That’s faith under fire. That’s faith standing firm.When have you been encouraged by another Christian who stood firm in a trial? Where do you need to stand firm today for the benefit of others?

We sent Timothy… to establish and exhort you in your faith.1 Thessalonians 3:2Our faith is always under fire. It is always being pounded. This can happen in a couple of different ways.We can be under fire through trials. “We sent Timothy… to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions” (3:2-3).We can also be under fire from the tempter. “I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labour would be in vain” (3:5).Paul gives us a model of three ways to minister to a person whose faith is under fire, whether through trials or from the tempter:Ministry of presenceWhen he couldn’t go, Paul sent Timothy to find out about the Thessalonians’ faith (3:5). We need to practice a godly vigilance for the spiritual good of others. “How is your faith? What’s happening to your love for Christ? How is this affecting your ability to pray?”Ministry of the WordNext, Paul wrote them a letter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We can’t write more Scripture for people whose faith is under fire, but we can help them apply the Scriptures to their lives.Ministry of prayerWhat a strength it is when someone says, “I’ve been praying for you.” Who do you know whose faith is under fire? Your calling is to strengthen and encourage them in their faith.These are the elements of true pastoral care. This is how you minister to someone whose faith is under fire. You go, you read the Bible, and you pray.Think about someone you know whose faith is under fire from great trials or a particular attack from the tempter. How are you ministering to them?

Being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves.1 Thessalonians 2:8It is easy to get into a routine of living on good intentions. You intend to be a better Christian one day. You expect to get right with God one day. You intend to share the gospel with a friend one day. But somehow that day never comes.1 Thessalonians confronts us with the urgency of our commission from Jesus Christ. Our lives are passing. Christ is coming. We do not have forever to fulfil our calling.All around us are people who have never seen the glory of Christ. And the Bible says, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12).God could have sent an angel to each person with the good news. Instead, He chose to use “vessels of clay”—people like us—to proclaim Christ to a dying world. God has placed people around you who do not know Him, and you are called to share His love with them.Can we rise above the desire for comfort and approval to fulfil our calling as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ? Is it possible for us to love Jesus Christ more than we love comfort in this culture that constantly promotes and pampers self?That’s hard. And if it is hard for one Christian, is it possible for a whole church to overcome the impulse that seeks our own comfort and the approval of others?Thankfully, the church in Thessalonica shows us that it can happen. The simple answer is “faith.”Have you told someone the good news about Jesus lately? Why not today?

We speak, not to please man… We never came with words of flattery… Nor did we seek glory from people.1 Thessalonians 2:4, 5, 6There was a second accusation against Paul—that he was motivated by a desire for the approval of others. You can see this from his answer in verses 4-6.If Paul’s definition of success had been that everybody should think well of him, he could not have been faithful as an apostle. This issue of looking for praise, acceptance, and love from others runs deep in all of us. We all want others to think well of us.Faith will be impossible for you if you allow yourself to be motivated by the approval of others. You cannot be an effective parent if you are driven by the need for approval from your children. You cannot give effective leadership in the church if you are driven by the need to be liked.A faithful church cannot be led by men who put their finger in the wind and ask, “What does everybody want?” This might create a culture of comfort, but it will not advance the gospel.This applies to everyone in the church, not just leaders. If we need to be liked by everybody, we will never do much for the gospel. The problem for some of the brothers in Thessalonica was that they were not ready for the antagonism of the world towards the gospel.If you are going to be a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, you have to overcome two impulses that run deep in every person: You have to overcome the desire for comfort, and you have to overcome the desire for approval.Which of these two desires is stronger in you right now? Ask God to help you overcome it.

For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed… though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.1 Thessalonians 2:5, 6The first accusation against Paul by the church in Thessalonica was that he was using the people to his own advantage. In Paul’s response, he is talking about money. As an apostle, he could have called on the Thessalonians to support him financially.But he didn’t do that. Paul got a job working during the day, and he gave himself to ministry in the evenings. That made for some long days: “You remember, brothers, our labour and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God” (2:9).The issue here goes deeper than money. Very few people are driven purely by money. The real motivation is not money itself, but the comfort that it brings.If comfort had been Paul’s criteria for success, he would have abandoned the first missionary journey when they were thrown into prison in Philippi. The gospel would never have come to Thessalonica, and you wouldn’t be reading this today.How would you know if you are motivated by comfort? You would always be asking: “What am I getting out of this? Am I enjoying this ministry? Do I like the other people?” When you ask these kinds of questions, you are working with a false definition of success: Success = comfort.If this has become your measure of success, what would repentance look like? It means ditching these questions and embracing a new definition of success.What matters is not your comfort, but the advance of the gospel through your life and ministry. Loving while bearing pain is a reflection of Jesus, and that’s success. In order to be a faithful disciple of Jesus, you have to overcome the desire for comfort.What are some new questions you could start asking?

You remember, brothers, our labour and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.1 Thessalonians 2:9The Apostle Paul’s definition of success is very different than the world’s definition. His definition of success is: to advance the gospel and to live under the approval of God.We had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict (2:2).Success is to advance the gospel.We speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts (2:4).Success is to live under the approval of God.Western postmodern culture places great emphasis on the way that each person is uniquely wired. Follow your heart! You do you! The Word of God does not major on what is uniquely you, but on what is commonly us.All of us (if we are human beings) are created by God. All of us are descended from Adam. All of us share the effects of his sin. And all of us depend on Christ for our righteousness.All of us (if we are Christians) have the Spirit of God living within us. We all struggle with the flesh. And we all suffer.All of us are being conformed to the image of Christ. All of us are entrusted with the gospel. And all of us are called to lay down our lives in the service of others.What are some ways you might be tempted to emphasise your own unique design over our common calling in Christ?

Not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere.1 Thessalonians 1:8The church in Thessalonica was a bridgehead for the gospel. It was the most exciting church in the New Testament, and yet some of the believers there didn’t know it. Some thought Paul’s ministry was a failure. That’s clear from how Paul answers them: Our coming to you was not in vain. (2:1) Obviously, some people were suggesting that it was. Our appeal does not spring from error. (2:3) Some thought that it did. Our appeal does not spring from… impurity or any attempt to deceive. (2:3) Some felt that Paul was trying to manipulate them.Sadly, some in the church, who were surrounded by a great work of God, did not have the eyes to see it. All they could see were problems. We know that Paul’s accusers were Christians, because he calls them “brothers.” How could they have thought that Paul’s ministry was a failure?Because they had a false definition of success. They defined success as “everything being comfortable and everyone being happy.” If that is your standard, you too will likely feel that your life, your family, and your church are a failure.A successful ministry does not mean a comfortable ministry. And a successful life, in God’s sight, is not the same as a carefree life. Plenty of God’s servants in the Bible were seen by the world as failures. But God’s view of success is different than the world’s.What is your definition of success? How do you know if your life is a success?

Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.1 Thessalonians 1:5Deep conviction does not fit well with our culture today. The prevailing spirit is one of uncertainty. We have more questions than answers.The person who speaks with certainty is quickly accused of being arrogant. None of us want to be thought of as proud, so it has become fashionable to reshape the gospel in terms of our questions and our searching.Notice how far this is from the spirit of the New Testament: “Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” The weight of Paul’s message came across in the conviction with which he spoke.People communicate in different styles, but whatever your style, the way you speak about the gospel has to fit the scale of the message.Think about a man making a marriage proposal. He decides to leave a voicemail: “Hi there, just wanted you to know that I love you very much. And I wanted to ask you if you would marry me. Get back to me when you have time.”That wouldn’t be very appropriate, now, would it? This man knows that what he is proposing will cost him everything. What he is asking will cost her everything.We must communicate the gospel in a way that is appropriate to the message. The gospel should not be presented like a high-pressure sales pitch, or like a free piece of candy, but with power, with the Holy Spirit’s help, and with deep conviction.Think about the people you talk to—children, grandchildren, colleagues, neighbours. What would they conclude about the gospel from the way that you speak about Jesus Christ?

You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.1 Thessalonians 1:9-10The church exists to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God, that through The church exists to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God, that through His death He bore the wrath of God, and that our risen King is coming to take His people into the presence of God.These things are so central to the message of Christianity, that…If we could show everybody how to navigate life, answer all human problems, mend all marriages, and heal all wounds, but we did not proclaim Christ, we would not have fulfilled our commission.If we could restore morality to the nation, cleanse Hollywood, and sanctify social media, but we did not proclaim Christ, we would not have completed our work.If we could provide meaningful relationships and personal fulfilment for everyone, but we did not proclaim Christ, we would not have fulfilled our calling.The health of a church and the effectiveness of a ministry cannot be judged by numbers, or programmes, or relationships, or commitments, but rather by the degree to which people have placed their confidence in Jesus Christ and found Him to be sufficient.That’s the message. The gospel exalts Jesus Christ, and we can count on the Holy Spirit to honour this gospel with His presence and power.What are you most tempted to place at the centre of Christianity (at the expense of the gospel)? Why?

You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.1 Thessalonians 1:9-10The gospel message is about a person Paul has come to know and wants to introduce to others. This person is unlike any other person who has ever lived. He is God’s Son from heaven. The gospel is about Him, and what He is able to do for you.Jesus, whom the Father raised from the deadThe distinctive declaration of the gospel is: Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead! Because He conquered death, He is uniquely positioned to bring us into life. Christians still die, but through His resurrection your death will not be the end of your life, but an entrance into a better kind of life.Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrathEvery person is faced with “the wrath to come.” This is God’s judging of every life—punishing every sin, righting every wrong, eradicating all evil, and destroying all sinners in the lake of fire.Without this coming wrath, the gospel makes no sense. What is the point of telling self-confident people that Jesus can give them a wonderful life when their lives are already full? Paul was convinced that there is a “wrath to come” that every person needs to be rescued from.The glory of the gospel is that, at unfathomable cost, Christ, through His death, has borne the wrath of God. And He now offers Himself to you so that you may be rescued from the wrath that, apart from Him, would come upon you.Why is understanding the wrath of God necessary to understanding the gospel?