Sharing Ourselves with the Gospel

We were ready to share with you not only the Gospel of God but also our own selves. (I Thessalonians 2:8)

I Thess. 2:1-8; Acts 21:24; I Cor. 9:22-23; I Cor. 10:24, 33; I Pet. 1:22

What Is God Saying?

The Letters to the Thessalonians were written early in Paul's ministry. As the years passed, he became more convinced that the Gospel was the most significant part of his ministry. Nothing is more important. That is why, in the opening sentences of his letter, he writes, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel: It is the power of God for salvati0n to everyone who has faith" (Rom. 1:16). There is a freshness about this earliest letter, "Because we loved you, we gave you the Gospel. But we loved you so much we gave you ourselves as well. You were dear to us." The message of Paul was not to please men (2:4); it was not used as a cloak for greed (2:5), not to take any glory (2:6), it was not given for personal gain (2:4). "They worked night and day to support themselves in order not to be a burden to the Christian community"(2:9), so in every way, "they shared themselves with their Gospel."

How Does This Apply To Us?

Many of us are ready to share the Gospel with others. Not many of us are willing to share the Gospel if it involves too much of our time, energy, wherewithal, and ourselves. To give out the Gospel may require giving up something of ourselves. Evangelism at arm's length does little for good and may do much harm.

Pray With Me

O God, Your Son is perfect love, and Your Gospel is redeeming grace. Eternity will not be long enough for my grateful heart to sing Your praise.

The chains of guilt have been broken. The burden of sin has been lifted. The meaningless existence of living for self has been transformed into the adventure of living for You. Heaven is on my horizon. Eternal life is mine. I have the joy of life that is unperturbed by death. This is the Gospel of God. The Good News lifts me and carries me on. I thank You.

I do not understand how I could ever be counted worthy to be a trustee of such a message, but I pray that Your patient grace will fashion me and that Your Holy Spirit will cleanse me. Let there be no discrepancy between the Gospel I speak with my mouth and the Gospel I show with my life.

In the name of Him whose once giving of Himself is the everlasting Gospel. Amen.

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

In prayer, we can move mountains and doors swing open with less difficulty. We must pray for ways to share the Gospel of God and ourselves with others.