I know what I’m about to say is what most, if not all, of those who read this already know. But sometimes I think the choir needs a little reassurance that the song they’re singing really is the most beautiful hymn ever sung. In I Thessalonians 2 Paul says:
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved…
There are two things I’d like to emphasize in this text.
1. “You accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God….” (v 13) Paul clearly says that, though it was his voice speaking to Thessalonians, it wasn’t his message. What he spoke was the word of God! I need to be reminded of that. We live in a secular world that says we’re silly for believing there is a God, much less that he actually spoke to us. And what’s worse, we live in a religious world that waters down the idea of divine inspiration until it means little more than something like, God gave us a nice history of his people to read and use as a loose guide for how we live today as people of faith.
But that’s not what Paul said! He said, “Good job Thessalonians. You got this right. My words to you really were God’s divine message of salvation.” So, don’t listen to those who would discourage us from believing that this message really is sacred because it originates from God and not from man.
2. Those who “hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved are displeasing God and oppose all mankind.” (vs 15-16) That is pretty strong language. Paul equates doing something that hinders the spread of the Gospel to something that “displeases God and opposes all mankind.” There should be a warning in that for those who speak against the Gospel but there is also an awesome declaration of just how important this message we have is. It we flip the verbs in that sentence then what we have is a message that when spoken pleases God and promotes / benefits all mankind!
So, if that’s the case, let me leave you (and me) with this thought: Are the words I am speaking, and my actions, telling the world that God has indeed spoken and has a message that is intended to bless them, or is there something in the way I’m living that impedes that message? Do I say or do things that would suggest I don’t really believe that God has declared Good News for all mankind? Or maybe do I just fail to speak or act in a way that gets this message of hope and blessing out to a world that desperately needs it?
The world is seeking cures to all kinds of physical and social ills that plague us. Unfortunately, in the process it often overlooks, if not suppresses, the greatest cure of all – the Gospel. We know better. Let’s make sure we continue to sing out this message of hope to the world because in the end it’s the only cure for what ails mankind most. Sing on then choir and do so knowing that our song pleases God and all mankind is benefited. And as you sing, smile and say to yourself, “This is pretty awesome. I’m bringing joy to God and benefiting the whole world.” Cool!
David
