Heralds Digest

"But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts." (1 Thessalonians 2:4 NKJV) Just as good news has little impact during pleasant season of life, approved minister of the gospel message must have developed thick skin for conflicts. Although the persecution of Apostle Paul and his associates as the expected credentials of ministers are common knowledge to the Thessalonian believers, the veracity of the gospel message remained undiluted. Rather than changing the message to settle man's appetite, approved ministers are changed to reveal the settled gospel message. The process toward divine approval might be painful to the body; it is priceless to the soul.

"But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts." (1 Thessalonians 2:4 NKJV) Almost all human engagements in life would receive a significant performance boost with encouragements from fellow men. The only drawback is the subtle elevation of the desired encouragements from men to the same level as the approval of God. The gospel, according to Apostle Paul, is a divine assignment to all believers, including the persecuted Thessalonians, representing the power of God to salvation. Once approved of God to get engaged, discouragement from elsewhere can only serve to test if our trust is in man or God. Generally, divine approval does not necessarily suggest the likelihood of human encouragements.