Daily Bread 7-1-17
1 Thessalonians 2:5-8
5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, or a cloak 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 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 you were dear unto us.
ref. - Ro 1:11 - For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established.
2Cor 12:15 - And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
How precious it is to find someone with the same mind and same Spirit as Paul. Oh, they are out there, but they are few. Even when Paul and his men had been terribly mistreated they would bring a clean pure gospel to the people. Even when the punishments and the separations became severe they still kept giving the pure gospel. In good times and bad, in rich and poor. Whether people listened or not, the gospel was given. No false intentions or acts of self promotion, but the promotion of the gospel. These men kept on fufilling Gods calling in themselves even when the people seem to care less and less. This is the work of an apostle. Paul's testimony was not spotless as he had come from the same sin that the people were in, but he used his experience and his successes and failures to help them. He was willing to let them know about things in his life that most hid so that they could avoid the same mistakes as he had made. He even called what he had held so dear for so long as dung. This being his knowledge, his heritage, and his power. But as we look into the examples that Paul gave in his never ending perseverance to continue the gospel we see something that is very rare. A man, called by God, prisoner to the gospel, actually fulfilling what God had called him to do. The question that we must ask ourselves is this; Is the one who we are following bringing us the pure gospel? Do they use their own experiences to reinforce that the gospel is true? Do they even, at the cost of their own popularity, financial status, and heritage, admit their failures and use them to help you? Do they really care for you or are you just another thing that they use to benefit themselves? Do they tell you what you want to hear or what you need to hear when it comes to the gospel? Even within the confines of the Church we have false prophets and they need to be exposed for who they are. Men who are in it for their own bellies. Paul and his men were not this. And neither should there be men like this out there. Don't be fooled. The ones who are the worst will come with big stories of how much they have done, how much they have spent, how many years they have served, how poor they have been.............all deceitful beggars looking for sympathy. Where is the gospel in all of this? Where is the selfsame Spirit that Paul had in this? I will tell you, it is not in this. That is why we have this scripture and others like it. To show us what type of leaders to follow when it comes to our Spiritual lives. If we want to be those leaders we must learn from this who follow the same Spirit that Paul followed. With all of this information that we have been given today it is time to get to work!!! Follow that which is good!!! Follow Christ!!! And join in with others who follow the same!!! The Church Of God Of The Firstborn is a great place to start and to finish this quest!!! Have a great day!!!