First Thessalonians hits home
People have access to all kinds of commentaries and resource materials on First Thessalonians. Some of them are good. Others are not worthy of attention. As an approachable commentary, I like Beverly Gaventa's little volume from the Interpretation commentary series.
Thought I would share a couple quick reflections on Paul's letter. I was refreshed by a new look at this short letter and enjoyed sharing 5 messages with our church. I'll share a couple things that stood out and encouraged me as I lived in this text. Here's the first:
(1) God is incredibly pleased with us when we tune our ears and try to discern His words coming from the mouths of His imperfect human servants.
Few people speak with such fluid ease that all listen with rapt attention. Most people have all kinds of problems when they speak. Some use poor grammar. Others reveal their lack of education or perspective. A few are too intellectual or sound boring. Many just don't speak well--they get nervous, repeat themselves, say "uh" too much or just simply don't make much sense.
The same is true when folks speak within the body of Christ. Whether stepping up to teach a class, lead a devotional thought, make an announcement, or just sharing a comment, Christians are rarely if ever eloquent -- just like everyone else. Even preachers don't often wow their listeners. Great preachers may produce oohs and aahs, especially when sharing their best material as guest speakers, but they can't possibly hit a home run every Sunday.
When someone has an open heart ready to hear God's word, God can speak through even the most humble orator. God's word can still show up with power even though delivered in a poorly articulated manner. This is why Paul praises the Thessalonian Christians because "when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word" (2:13).
Paul was apparently not a great speaker. Elsewhere in the New Testament, Paul implies that he had been accused of being a bore or unimpressive. Imagine that! If alive today, Paul would likely not have been a keynote speaker at many (if any) major church events. He may not have been a smooth orator.
For those whose hearts were receptive to God, however, Paul's words revealed the word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul's message was authentic and real, and Paul's life genuinely reflected what he preached. The Thessalonian Christians received God's good news emanating from Paul and his co-workers, and they received it with joy (1:5-6).
God is pleased when we are listening for His words rather than focusing on whether or not we are entertained by the message. Too many pseudo-Christians reveal their own shallowness when they talk about how they didn't like the sermon or they don't like their teacher or that they think so-and-so makes dumb comments. Public teachers in the church certainly have the obligation to be authentic and real in their love for God and in their desire to speak His word. And well-crafted messages can have a profound effect on people.
When our hearts are open to receive the word of God, however, we can hear God's word in the most unlikely times from the most unexpected people in the most unimpressive ways. Have you ever been just blown away by a sermon or a class, but then later discovered that others got nothing out of it? That might be an example of having your heart open to receive God's instruction in a way that wasn't dependent on the flashiness or eloquence of the speaker.
God is truly pleased when our hearts are attentive and receptive. Imagine how our churches would prosper if we increasingly prayed that God would help us hear His word in the words of our preachers, teachers, elders, brothers, sisters, etc., rather than too quickly dismissing them as mere human words.
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