Learning Gentleness With Paul

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.


Paul was writing to the people in the churches of Thessalonica that he had established during a previous missions trip. He was teaching them more lessons of the Christian faith after he had left their towns.   Paul starts off his letter by saying that when they visited their towns, their trip was not a failure. They had met much opposition, but they still continued sharing the Gospel.


Paul continues, ‘God has tested us thoroughly to make sure we were qualified to be trusted with His message. Be assured that when we speak to you we're not after crowd approval—only God’s approval. Since we've been put through that battery of tests, you're guaranteed that both we and the Message are free of error, mixed motives, or hidden agendas. We never used words to butter you up. No one knows that better than you. And God knows we never used words as a smoke screen to take advantage of you.’

Paul wanted them to know for a fact that they were God’s messengers and had only given them His messages. Paul chose his words very carefully. He didn’t want to appear to be better than anyone else or to offend them by any form of harshness. Paul wrote in an attitude of gentleness so that he could assure these young believers.


Paul went on to say; ‘You remember us in those days, friends, working our fingers to the bone, up half the night, moonlighting so you wouldn't have the burden of supporting us while we proclaimed God's Message to you. You saw with your own eyes how discreet and courteous we were among you, with keen sensitivity to you as fellow believers. And God knows we weren't freeloaders! You experienced it all firsthand. With each of you we were like a father with his child, holding your hand, whispering encouragement, showing you step-by-step how to live well before God, who called us into his own kingdom, into this delightful life.’


These brothers and sisters were very new believers and Paul wanted them to know in the kindness way possible that he had shared only God’s truth with them and did not require them to support him and his companions while they were young in their beliefs.  Paul was instructing these new believers much like our physical parents raise up our younger brothers and sisters; with gentleness and in word their youth can quickly grasp and understand. He walked them through their ‘Foundations of Faith’ with all the care that any loving parent would do with their own child – much the way our Pastor has been doing for us as we have been taking our refresher course on this subject over the past several months during our Wednesday night Bible Discussion Classes.



LEARNING GENTLENESS:


Memory Verse:
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 NIV


Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Philippians 4:5 KJV






What is gentleness? www.dictionary.com says it is the act of being kind, amiable or agreeable. My Bible dictionary gives the definition of Gentleness as mildness combined with tenderness. That is a pretty good one; for if you are being gentle you have a mild manner or temperament and a tender heart. This is exactly how Paul was writing to the Thessalonians; with a mild manner and a tender heart. It is how Jesus treated those that He was ministering to. In fact he gave us the perfect example of gentleness in the Gospels; I will quote the passage from Mark 10-13-16, NIV:  "People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth; anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them."


Jesus expects us to be child-like in our faith and attitude; for children will believe what they are told – unless you have proven you can’t be trusted. They will also treat each other with kindness, unless severely provoked. In fact, bullies are MADE not BORN. A child usually will not mistreat others unless he lives in a place where treating others badly is the ‘norm;’ abusive children are children who are or have been abused.


There is a saying that was tossed about a lot when I was a child, it said; ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ Sounds like it was taken from the Bible, doesn’t it? But is isn’t; although the principles it uses are biblical. But Paul tells us in Romans 12:10; ‘Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another…’ The NIV says it more clearly; ‘Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.’


If we are devoted to each other in brotherly love and honor others above ourselves, we will always be gentle in our dealings with other people. This is the Gentleness that we should learn from Paul as he mimics what he has learned from Jesus, our Lord!


Ephesians 4:32 says;  'And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.' KJV


'Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.' NIV


This is the practice of gentleness.


Until next time!


~ Leigh ~