1 THESSALONIANS 2:1-7 – For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.”

THEME OF THE DAY:  LIVING AND SERVING BEFORE AN AUDIENCE OF ONE.  As one reads the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica, it is not hard to detect at least three things about his relationship with these young believers.

First, his deep affection for these fellow believers. Take time and read the letter in its entirety looking for the heart of love from the Apostle Paul for the Thessalonian Christians. It is very heart-warming. He loved them and was not afraid to show and tell them.

Another thing that flows from his heart for them was the desire to see them grow spiritually.  The pastoral heart of Paul, which really is to be the heart of all Christians for other Christians, repeatedly surfaces throughout the letter.  He longs for them to grow spiritually, to mature in Christ.

The third thing we detect in this letter is found in today’s scripture.  It is the Apostle Paul’s transparency and awareness he lived and served, not for the approval or affirmation of people, but in the Presence of the One who truly mattered.  Yes, in the greatest Christian ever to live, we see a life living and serving before an audience of One.   And what about us?

It doesn’t take much self-examination to see if our living and serving the Lord is for His pleasure and approval or if we want recognition, affirmation, and approval of men.  Here is how that looks. When we are living and serving in the Christian life and are satisfied with the approval of God alone, we are achieving “Paul-like” status before an audience of one. And God recognizes such service as precious and acceptable. However, if we serve wanting to be recognized, affirmed or thanked by people, and we don’t get any, and become critical, joyless, and frustrated, we were not living for the only approval and affirmation that matters – the Lord’s. Such labor may accomplish much on the surface, but at the Judgment Seat of Christ, it will burn up as worthless wood, hay and stubble.

Living and serving before an audience of One.  This is the type of living and service for the Lord that matters.  May God help us not seek anyone’s approval and applause in life, but Him for He is the One who really matters.

PRAYER: “Father, forgive me for the times I seek the praise of people in my service for You.”

QUOTE: “The only approval and affirmation that matters in life and eternity is that of the Lord.”

Because of Him,

Pastor Jim