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"You know,
brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure."
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
1 For
yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was
not in vain: 2 But even after that we had suffered
before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi,
we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with
much contention. 3 For our exhortation was not of
deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we
were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so
we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye
know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6 Nor
of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of
others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of
Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse
cherisheth her children: 8 So being affectionately
desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not
the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were
dear unto us. 9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and
travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be
chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of
God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how
holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you
that believe: 11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted
and charged every one of you, as a father doth his
children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath
called you unto his kingdom and glory.
Today we examine
yet another principle which we must develop in our lives if we are
to become strong at the broken places of failure: cultivate a
biblical perspective on everything.
You may be familiar with the passage before us today, but I want
to emphasize several points from it which help us to see how
effectively Paul believed and practiced spiritual principles.
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Firstly,
his words and preaching, despite strong public opposition,
were not the result of his own thinking - they were the result
of the gospel of God (1th.2:2).
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Secondly,
the very foundation of his life and character were based on
the truth of the gospel (1th.2:3).
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Thirdly,
he considered God's Word as something "entrusted" to
him, and it gave him such security that he didn't feel the
need to compromise or become a "people pleaser"
(1th.2:4).
It may sound
old-fashioned and naive to some, but I believe with all my heart
that the secret of surviving life's crushing defeats and blows is
to develop a spiritual and biblical perspective on everything.
"It is blessed," wrote C.H.Spurgeon, "to eat into
the very soul of the Bible until, at last, you come to talk in
Scriptural language, and your spirit is flavored with the words of
the Lord, so that your blood is Bibline and the very essence of
the Bible flows from you."
Descriptive, isn't it? I find this idea of being committed to a
biblical mentality so rare among modern-day Christians that I
sometimes tremble inwardly with concern. Someone said, "Time
spent with the Bible knits up the ravelled sleeve of care."
It does.
Prayer:
O Father, help
me, also, "to eat into the very soul of the Bible ... until
my spirit is flavored with the words of the Lord." Give me
a biblical mentality. For Jesus' sake I pray. Amen.
Further study:
Ps. 119:97-104; Josh. 1:8; 2 Cor. 10: 1-5; Rom. 12:2
1. How can we
cultivate a biblical perspective?
2. How is our mind renewed?
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