1 Thessalonians 2:11-13 - We charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God

2:11,12

They dealt with the people as a father deals with his child. There was a deep connection and a deep concern. In all our work for the gospel we should remember that we are dealing with people, and God’s command is that we love everyone. This love will sometimes be rejected or misunderstood, but we are to continue loving as God loves. This love is not soppy sentimentality, but involves “encouraging, comforting and urging to live lives worthy of God”. This is to be our goal. Sadly there are some churches where they encourage people to live lives unworthy of the Lord. Why should we do this? Because God has called people into His kingdom and into His glory. The world’s way of living is demeaning and dishonouring. God’s way of living is glorifying.

2:13

There are two ways of looking at the Bible. One is to treat it as a purely human book, the other is to treat it as God-breather, receiving it as the word of God. Paul gives thanks that the Thessalonians receive it as the word of God. Doing this does not mean we kiss our brains goodbye, nor that academic scholarship has nothing to teach us, but our starting point is that it is the word of God. The word was at work in them. The Bible is revelation from God, and God creates and acts through His word. So if we believe His word then we will find that God Himself is at work in us.