Pleasing God

St. Paul tells us of the shameful treatment they received. Instead of discouraging them, this made them bolder in preaching the gospel. According to him, this was not easy as he said, he did this in much conflict.

They spoke not to please men but to please God. St. Paul also pointed to why they did this: because God tests their hearts. God knows the hearts of everyone. We cannot judge people - only God can. Since St. Paul and his companions wanted to please God, they could not teach errors, uncleanness or do so to deceive.

Giving of Self

Their motives were pure. Here, Paul compared himself as a nursing mother cherishing her children. Preaching the good news is not only a matter of teaching. It is a matter of giving ones self. He then pointed to what they did - working night and day so as not to be a burden to anyone.

Then Paul pointed to their actions. How they were holy, meaning, different from others; how they did right and no one could accuse them of anything. He also compared himself as a father who exhorted, comforted and begged everyone to walk worthily before God.

St. Paul the Father in Faith

With this, Paul gave an idea of what a father should do. A father is expected to exhort his children. He is to encourage them, to help them become the best they can be. A father also has to comfort his children. He is to be sensitive to them and be someone whom his children can rely on.

Lastly, the father is to be a guide to his children so they can walk worthily before God. Not just walk before God, but walk worthily. This means the father should lead his children to the knowledge of God and of his ways. The father should not only teach his faith to his children. The father should help his children live their faith!

Sufferings and Obedience

The word of God is not the word of men. It should be received as it is. It is the truth and St. Paul said, it works in you who believe. The word of God works in us. It changes people. It has an effect on them.

St. Paul reminded the Thessalonians that they are one with the community in Judea because they suffered the same thing. Our sufferings are not useless. Suffering for our beliefs unites us with the sufferings of other communities in Christ. It proves believers form a community that is called to suffer for the faith. When we are in Christ, we should expect to suffer for our faith. People will drive us out. People will tell us to keep quiet.

Yet, as Christians, we cannot obey them. We obey God. He calls us to persevere and continue to believe. He calls us to preach the good news. In the end, they will be held accountable for what they do.

St. Paul wanted to go back to Thessalonica to see the community again. He spoke of Satan hindering him. We have plans. God has plans. Yet, the enemy moves to hinder us from achieving these. By saying this, St. Paul confirms the reality of the devil. There is a devil who works against the will of God. He seeks to deprive us of Gods plan.