06/18/20 Approved by God

READING: Proverbs 24-25, Psalm 41, 1 Thessalonians 2

It’s always good to check our motives as we serve God. Our hearts can surely be deceptive. Apart from the work of God’s Spirit, we convince ourselves of our rightness while ignoring or not recognizing our poor motives. Continual assessment by self and others is always in order—and that process begins with each of us.

As I try to look into my heart, Paul’s own self-evaluation in today’s New Testament reading is challenging to me. He said to the Thessalonians that he did not come to them to please people; instead, he intended to please the God who checked his heart. He did not use flattering words, and he did not do ministry out of greed. He didn’t need glory from people. Instead, Paul loved the Thessalonians like an adoring, guiding parent—and he could say with integrity that he lived among them “devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly” (1 Thess 2:10). He checked his heart and found it faithful under the grace of God.

No flattery. No greed. No personal glory. No people-pleasing. Rather, Paul’s ministry was marked by nurturing and caring and modeling and comforting and encouraging and leading with gentleness and consistency. When we live that way, we show Christ to a hurting, dying world. And, we walk worthy of God (1 Thess 2:12).

PRAYER: “God, please check my heart and bring me to confession where needed.”  

TOMORROW’S READING: Proverbs 26-28, 1 Thessalonians 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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