To Encourage You

1 Thessalonians 2:4 “. . . we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”

Some jobs carry with them such incredible responsibilities. I think of fire fighters, police officers, and surgeons.  What they do on a daily basis could mean life – or death – for someone.  Then there are others, like air traffic controllers.  The importance of the guidance they provide is sobering in terms of its responsibility, not to mention the responsibility of the pilots that fly the planes.  However, if you are a believer, do you realize that you have a responsibility that is far greater than any of the ones just mentioned. For one, it is a responsibility that God Himself has entrusted to you. And secondly, it is a responsibility with not just the lives of others at stake, but their eternal lives.  As Paul states in the verse above, he had “been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.”   

The good news that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost: it’s up to you and me to share that message.  This life-giving and life-saving message has been entrusted to those who have already been saved by it.  It is now in our hands to make sure the message goes forth to others.  It’s something God has called us to.  “Approved” carries with it the idea of being tested.  Surely, Paul, in his great suffering for sharing the gospel, had demonstrated that he was the real thing. He wasn’t a false teacher. He wasn’t trying to deceive anyone. He endured trials for the sake of the gospel because his faith was indeed, real.  That was evident to those he ministered to. His walk definitely matched his talk.  And that’s exactly what God would have for each and every one of us, that our walk, if we call ourselves believers that have been born again into the very family of God, would match our talk, assuming of course we are active in sharing our faith. 

God would have us share the truth of His Word, which is an act that pleases Him, and in fact demonstrates obedience to what He has commanded us to do, i.e., to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  But in so doing, we can be assured that often that sharing of Truth will not please men.  The gospel cuts to the heart. It unmasks us. It shines light on the inner soul where sin is at work – and darkness hates the light.  It’s hard work. In fact, in many places in the world it’s extremely dangerous work. In North Korea and other repressive regimes in the world, you could be imprisoned, tortured, and even put to death if you do this.  But it’s our responsibility – one that God himself has entrusted to us. 

Jesus is in Heaven now, but He has sent His Holy Spirit to indwell each and every believer so that we could continue the work for which He came to earth. And what was that work?  It was to seek and save the lost – going to them, loving them, and sharing the truth of the gospel with them, for that is the only message that can bring them salvation unto eternal life. 

May God help us to fulfill the sacred work that He has entrusted to us.  It’s an awesome thing.  It’s a critical thing.  Above all, it’s what we as believers are still here for.  So, in this time, in whatever location in which you find yourself, be assured that you are there by the hand of God, and there are those in your life that need to hear about Him. So have they heard?  Will they?  You may well be the only one in their life right now that can tell them.