1 Thessalonians 2:4-13: But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness--God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.
But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
WHEN WE ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST as LORD and SAVIOR of our lives, we become citizens of the KINGDOM of GOD, part of GOD's FAMILY, His adopted sons and daughters, and our new identities are found in GOD's SON, JESUS CHRIST: GOD with us, GOD in us. We are cleansed and made new; we are purified and transformed, and we become new creations in CHRIST, consecrated, "set apart," for GOD's glory, honor, purpose, and use, and Romans 14:8-9 reminds us, "none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living."
2 Corinthians 5 assures us that He, CHRIST, "died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again," and "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
So then, it is not we who live but CHRIST lives in us, and the life we now live we live by faith in the SON of GOD, who loved us and gave Himself for us. So, we are not seeking the approval of others nor are we seeking to continually please women or men. As servants of CHRIST, we're more interested in getting the approval of our heavenly Father and pleasing our King of Kings and Eternal Boss, GOD.
Only GOD knows the plans He has for us, plans to prosper us and not harm us, plans to give us hope and a future; only GOD knows what He created, called, and commissioned us to do; and only GOD can equip and empower us to fulfill our purpose, complete our assignment, reach our destination, finish our race.
He entrusts us with HIS WORD.
He entrusts us with HIS SPIRIT.
He entrusts us with GIFTS: time, talents, and treasure.
He entrusts us with the GOSPEL: The Good News of the Kingdom of GOD, the Good News of JESUS CHRIST.
GOD loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life, and GOD gives His approval for us to be entrusted with the GOSPEL because He is good, just, loving, faithful, merciful, gracious, and compassionate, and as 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
GOD loves us so much He wants to spend eternity with us; He loves us so much He sent His Son, who died to pay our debt; and He loves us so much, He raised His Son, JESUS; He resurrected Him, so we could be saved, forgiven, redeemed, cleansed, and reconciled to GOD.
And this is our story and these are our chapters in the pages of GOD's BOOKS: We were created and chosen; we accepted GOD's call, His GREAT COMMISSION; and we were consecrated, "set apart," and now, we're appointed a certain time in GOD's service; and we're approved by GOD to be entrusted with the GOSPEL of GOD.
So, we are called and commissioned, consecrated and commanded, equipped and empowered, in the NAME of JESUS, under the AUTHORITY of GOD, by the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT, in a ministry of reconciliation, imploring others to be reconciled to GOD. So, it is not we who live but CHRIST lives in us, and the life we now live we live by faith in the SON of GOD, and if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord, for whether we live or die, we are, and will forever be, the Lord's.
