April 7, 2021: The Word Speaks to Adults
Read 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12.
"For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God" (v. 9).
Your pastor will relate to this verse. "Laboring night and day" to declare the Gospel is what pastors do. Pastors are motivated to see that as many as possible hear the Gospel and respond to it. They are motivated to preach the Word because they are called by God to do it. They don't want to be responsible for someone under their influence, not making it to Heaven.
Reading the paragraph that contains this verse (vs. 7-12), one discovers that the apostle was deeply concerned about the spread of the Gospel. He knew that his work and character were important channels to seeing God's work grow.
This leads us to a couple of simple conclusions. First, God's Word often speaks through people whose lives and characters reflect His message. Those who are most effective in speaking the Word have allowed the Word to penetrate and change their lives. Second, the Gospel is about change. It transforms believers so that they "walk worthy of God." It's not that Christians have to repay God for His work in our lives. Instead, He adjusts our lives so that we reflect Him in every aspect of living. (Mark D. Avery)
As the Word speaks into our lives, we grow in grace and Christian maturity.
