1 Thessalonian 2:12 “Encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory.” (NIV)
Paul did not see the Christian life as an activity that was shared with all the other activities of his life, but a consuming force that determined who he was and the life he was to live. Paul was willing to do and give anything to help Christians become passionate and devoted followers of Christ. Paul probably had this passion because he did not want to return to the deadness of the religion in which he grew up. He had now experienced the living Christ! Paul knew that he could only continue to experience the living Christ by making Him Lord of all. To do otherwise would be to shut Christ out. This poses two questions: Is Christ at the center of all you do while being Lord of all? Do you have a similar passion to what Paul had by being willing to do whatever it takes to help others experience the living Christ? Matthew 28:19 teaches us to, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” There is nothing more worthy to God than advancing Jesus and the gospel message in order that more people get to know Him as their Savior so that more Christians are growing and experiencing Christ. In 1 Thessalonians 2:8 Paul told us that he not only shared the gospel, but also his life with others. In verse 9 he said he preached the gospel night and day. And then in today’s verse he shared that he dealt with others as a father would deal with his own child by “encouraging, comforting and urging.” There was nothing secondary about Christ in Paul’s life. Is Jesus the breath and heartbeat of your life?
Colossians 1:9-12 “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lordand may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."