Heralds Digest

“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17 NKJV) A life without virtue is one without essence for living; and a life with a completely spent virtue is possibly wasted without a single trace of mourning from acquaintances. On the other hand, the demise of a virtuous life represents a significant mourning and loss of courage for the remaining uprights, especially when little hope of gain beyond the grave is secluded. That the dead in Christ (those who held on their love and righteous virtues to the very end of their lives) will rise first, to meet the Lord in the air, is a great source of comfort for the souls. A virtuous life promotes a victorious living for virtue and hope of eternal fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

"But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another." (1 Thessalonians 4:9 NKJV) Life makes no meaning without love, especially brotherly love, which means living for others' values and emotions. Unfortunately, the pervasive version of love (lust) promotes the affection for living under selfish taste. Genuine love cannot be self-driven; God must lead the way and order every action. Therefore, in every circumstance of life, there is a divine purpose for everyone to extend the hand of pure love to another. Otherwise, a self-driven affection and motives will cross the safe boundary from brotherly love to lust.

“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 NKJV) The fearlessness of love is demonstrated by Apostle Paul, even in the midst of affliction and distress. In times like this, the natural instinct remains a self-care. That is, to care for the alleviation of the source of affliction and distress does more harm to the soul, by creating hatred and bitterness against the source of our pains. Whereas by focussing on love and the faith of the Thessalonian believers, affliction and distress appear to lose its sting on the blameless Apostle. It implies that the secret of a blameless heart is the unrestricted expression of a borderless love.

"For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV) It takes the inspiration of God for the word of men to be transformed to the word of God. Otherwise, the most refined words of men are generally subjective and motivated toward the fulfillment of human agenda. When supplication for grace to effectively prosecute divine agenda supersedes man's selfish desires, the inspiration of God upon every word of men become evident. Only the inspired word can expose the corruption in the heart for cleansing by the power of conversion at the cross.

"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.

"For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything." (1 Thessalonians 1:8 NKJV) The sounding of the word of the Lord is here removed from expressions with great speeches. Specifically, the faith of the Thessalonian believers toward God has been instrumental to the spreading of the gospel message across the whole of Asian minor, including Macedonia and Achaia. Although statements of fact relating to our promotion, provision, and protection are commendable evidences of God's faithfulness, statements of faith in the absence of these evidences represent effective communication of the existence of God, especially to unbelievers.

"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) The relevance of every minister lies in the fulfillment of the ministry committed to his care. Although it is difficult to decipher the import of Paul's admonition to Archippus, it appears suffering and pains are threatening the commitment of Archippus to the cause of the ministry. It is easier to place the care of minister ahead of the care of the ministry; a comfortable minister does not necessarily produce a committed ministry. Anyone who cannot rely on God's grace to carry the cross may not be able to trust God through the required course for the fulfillment of the ministry.