Spreading Good Gossip

Reading:  2 Thessalonians 1:1-5
    
    As Paul writes the Thessalonians a second letter, things seem to be going well.  “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing”(2 Thess 1:3).  These are the measures of Christian growth—stronger faith and increasing brotherly love—and Paul is thrilled to see that the group is healthy and thriving.  He thanks God for them “as is right,” implying that the appropriate response to vibrant churches is to praise God, not people.

    It is because of this growth that “we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring”(2 Thess 1:4).  As Paul travels from church to church, he reports on the success of these believers, boasting about how well they are doing.  Just as in his first letter (see 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10), the Thessalonians’ story is the source of fascination and encouragement.  As time passes, it is the more impressive that they show “steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.”  The very people who used to join them in worshiping idols now oppose, oppress, and ridicule them, yet these disciples continue to follow Jesus.  Paul wants others to be encouraged by such surprising and genuine faith, so he brags.

    When we spread gossip, it is usually destructive and critical.  Yet here Paul shows us the beauty and power of good gossip.  We can spread positive information about others, praising their example and lauding their successes.  This kind of talk does not need to be whispered, nor does it hurt anyone’s feelings when they hear we’ve been talking about them behind their back.  We may even begin to look for good things to spread around, confident that this confirms to everyone that God is at work among us.

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One Thing to Think About:   Whom can I spread “good gossip” about today?

One Thing to Pray For:  A steadfast heart through difficult times
 

He Will Surely Do It

Reading:  1 Thessalonians 5:23-28
    
    Paul finishes the letter with a beautiful prayer for blessing on the Thessalonians.  He asks that “the God of peace himself sanctify you completely”(1 Thess 5:23).  This is a work that is so important that God will not leave it to surrogates, but will do it “himself.”  Paul longs for God to bring these young believers to full holiness, not just in sexual matters (1 Thess 4:3), but in their “whole spirit and soul and body.”  God’s purity and separateness can extend through all of our thinking, deep into our hearts, and out into our bodies.  He can cleanse us and set us apart to his work, keeping us “blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  His prayer is for God’s ongoing sanctification of his people, all the way to the end when Jesus returns.

    After leaving us breathless with this awesome benediction, Paul reassures us:  “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it”(1 Thess 5:24).  Because God is dependable and trustworthy, we can be confident in his work in our hearts.  He will not leave us half-finished.  He will be faithful to his words and commitment.  Will we?

    There is assurance here that since our salvation depends on God, we are safe in his hands.  He has more work to do in us.  He wants to bring our sanctification into richer, fuller fulfilment.  He wants to preserve us blameless through the trials of life.  Paul insists that “he will surely do it.”  He does not mean that God will save us against our will—or despite persistent rebellion.  His point is that God will always be faithful.  Will we?

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One Thing to Think About:   How can I be holier in my spirit, soul, and body?

One Thing to Pray For:  God to continue and complete his work in me
 

Three Things that Are Always Appropriate

Reading:  1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
    
    Paul gives three short instructions that express “the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”:  “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances”(1 Thess 5:16-18).  His language is striking because it is so sweeping:  always, without ceasing, in all circumstances.  As the Thessalonians prepare for the ups and downs of life, these are three spiritual activities that they need to continue.  We rejoice because we remember that we are the recipients of tremendous spiritual blessings.  We pray because we long to speak to God, praise him, thank him, and ask his help with whatever we are facing.  We give thanks because even when things are unpleasant, there is so much good in our lives.

    He also wants the Thessalonians to think rightly about new information that purports to come from God.  “Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil”(1 Thess 5:19-22).  There is a danger that we will refuse to hear messages that challenge and convict us, quenching the Spirit and despising God’s words.  Likewise there is a danger that we will believe every message to the point of absurdity (see 1 John 4:1).  Paul’s solution is to “test everything; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil”(1 Thess 5:21-22).  We compare every message to God’s revealed word.  If it syncs up and agrees with what has been revealed, we accept it; otherwise, we abstain from it.  In this way, Christians are both open-minded (ready to hear messages from God) and closed-minded (ready to reject whatever is not from him).  

    Rejoicing, prayer, and thanksgiving are three things that are always appropriate.  The Thessalonians have suffered persecution and rejection, yet there is still a place to rejoice, pray, and give thanks.  More than occasional acts, these become disciplines that characterize us and buoy us through whatever circumstances we encounter. 

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One Thing to Think About:   In what circumstances do I find it hard to rejoice, pray, or give thanks?  Why?

One Thing to Pray For:  The discernment to test everything I hear—but only accept what is from God
 

The Wisdom of Different Approaches

Reading:  1 Thessalonians 5:12-15
    
    Paul begins to wrap up the letter by giving some instructions about the local church.  He wants the Thessalonians to “respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work”(1 Thess 5:12-13).  Who these men are is not specified, but they appear to be leaders within the church who have a teaching role.  This suggests elders.  Paul wants them not only to follow their leading, but to appreciate and love them because of the work they do to help the church grow.

    Then he looks more broadly at the church.  “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all”(1 Thess 5:14).  There are three different groups described here and each requires a different approach.  The “idle”(or “unruly”) require strong rebuke and instruction.  The “fainthearted” (those who are tired, doubting, or anxious) need to be helped and comforted.  The “weak” (those who are spiritually immature or physically needy) need our aid and support.  Everyone needs patience.  These approaches are all applications of a broader effort that “(seeks) to do good to one another and to everyone”(1 Thess 5:15).

    There is wisdom in having different approaches depending on the kind of person we are dealing with.  We must be able to discern when someone is defiant and when they are merely weak or discouraged.  Sometimes people need stern challenge and at other times they need an arm over their shoulder.  Everyone needs patience.  

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One Thing to Think About:   How can I tell the difference between someone who is unruly, fainthearted, or weak?

One Thing to Pray For:  Wisdom to know what to say to my brothers and sisters—and when to say it
 

The Sober Life

Reading:  1 Thessalonians 5:7-11
    
    As we wait for Jesus’ return, Christians run the risk of losing sight of the goal and being caught unprepared.  “So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep away and be sober.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.  But since we belong to the day, let us be sober”(1 Thess 5:6-8).  In Paul’s analogy, those who thrive in the nighttime are those who seek to be inactive (“sleep”) or wicked (“drunk”).  They seek the cover of darkness to cloak their choices.  Jesus’ disciples have no need to hide their deeds; “we belong to the day.”  We do not have to be embarrassed anymore.  Now our aim is to live the sober life.

    Paul elaborates on the sober life.  “Let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation”(1 Thess 5:8).  We focus on what we believe, not what we would like or what we can get away with.  We live from a heart of love rather than selfish ambition.  These motivations are like a breastplate that protects us from inaction or temptation.  Meanwhile we cling earnestly to “the hope of salvation,” reminding ourselves continually that we are still waiting for the culmination of our hope.  Faith, love, and hope make us into different kinds of people and keep our eyes ahead.  We live seriously, determinedly, wisely, and passionately.  This is the sober life.  “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing”(1 Thess 5:11).

    Sobriety is not restricted to alcohol.  It does not mean that we are joyless party ruiners.  Paul wants us to be a people who take serious things seriously and structure our lives around our most important decisions, promises, and beliefs.  

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One Thing to Think About:   Would others consider me a sober person?

One Thing to Pray For:  The desire to “encourage one another and build one another up”