Heralds Digest

"For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans." (1 Thessalonians 2:14 NKJV) Unless its surfaces are blurred, a good mirror reflects a perfect imitation of all incident images. Being made in God's images, the original intention is the reflection of God's character, which is holiness. The natural accomplice of holiness in an unholy world is persecution; to the end that suffering for righteousness becomes the natural evidence of godliness. How grateful to God was Apostle Paul to see the imitation of the same suffering in the Thessalonian's relationship with their countrymen. A righteous reflection hold nothing back in the resemblance of Christ's true character, especially in times of intense persecution.

"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.

"And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 1:6 NKJV) Affliction can make or mar a man, depending the response of the heart to its call for submission. The Thessalonian believers have a reasonable taste of affliction that queried their loyalty to the Lord, through the consistent joy of the Holy Spirit. Following the submission of the Apostles, they demonstrated that what matter most is not the affliction that seek to bend us, but the self that readily bend to the pain of affliction. Total submission to the Lord takes away the option of being ruled or corrupted by any other beside Him. After all, a sold out soul is sacred to his redeemer and incapable of been undersold.

"And say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”" (Colossians 4:17 NKJV) Loyalty grows with acquaintances. And without divided interest, distractions to the loyalty line will be minimal. Whatever the level of distraction to the ministry received by Archippus from the Lord, it is obvious from Apostle Paul's admonition that there appeared to be a potential threat to the fulfillment of the ministry. If man were equal with God, distractions to our loyalty with God on the account of satisfying man's interest will be considerate. Hence, we need a daily supply of grace in order to draw and maintain the line of loyalty to God against any acquaintance bug.

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." (Colossians 3:23 NKJV) The relevance of healthy husband-wife, parents-children, and master-servant relationships in building a strong Christian character is exemplified by Apostle Paul. To the Colossians, and as unto all in today's world, charity begins at home. If we lose the charity in sustaining confidence in others, irrespective of their present deficiencies, commitment to building confidence in ourselves will be negatively impacted. There is a great recompense of reward in healthy relationships, if christian confidence is built on God's promises, rather than on the critical assessment of the present human potentials.

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15 NKJV) The house of God will be unattractive to the hurtful world, if it is reserved as a cathedral for saints. And in every assembly of the redeemed, the invasion of the heart of man with provocative interactions is both expected and a necessary evil. In the early church, the experience of the Colossians was not an exception. And Apostle Paul's model remains the indisputable credentials for any called out saint in today's troubled world. If we are not thankful for the trouble we hate, we cannot be thankful for the peace we love. Frankly, the serenity of peace is only appreciated within the severity of troubles.

"...and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God." (Colossians 2:19 NKJV) The contrast between religion and relationship represents the subject of Apostle Paul's exhortation to the Colossians. They have had trouble managing the doctrine of the Judaism, which was rooted in the regulation of life based on " dos " and " donts ". Strong attachment to religious practices without healthy relationship with Christ offers little value to the well-being of the body and soul. More than the expected service to the Master, Christianity is more about the cultivation of the process of obtaining a daily serving from the throne of grace. Only a value-added attachment guarantees divine grace for daily growth.