1110 you, as when a nurse cherisheth her own children,” we have the beautiful thought that over the young converts in Thessalonica, the babes in Christ, Paul and his associates became “ babes,” just as a good nurse, and every mother, becomes a child as she coddles her chil dren. How we need the love that can humble our pride and make us chjldren to the children, babes to the babes, Paul also had been “ affectionately desirous of” them. The Greek word translated “ affectionately desirous” is a peculiar one implying the yearning fondness of a mother’s love. We are get ting here a wonderful insight into the tender depths of Paul’s heart. How few of us are like him, but how much we need to be. In their tender love for the church of the Thessalonians Paul and his companions were “ well pleased to impart unto them (you), hot the Gospel of God only, but also their (our) own souls (or, lives).” Paul was actu ally pouring out his life for them by his hard labors (v. 9). He was delighted to do it. Love made the sacrifice sweet. Oh, for pastors and evangelists and mis sionaries who in the fullness of their lové long to impart the Gospel unto men and not only the Gospel but their very lives. The secret of it all was, “ because ye were become very dear unto us.” That is evèry preacher’s great est need, love for those to whom he ministers. SUNDAY, Dec. 29. 1 Thess. 2:9-12. In v. 8 Paul had said, “We were well pleased to impart our own lives unto you.” In v. 9 he says how he had proven his willingness to impart his life unto them, for he had worn himself out for them with “ labor and travail.” The word translated “ labor” is a strong word indicating hard, wearisome work; and the word translated “ travail” means painful toil. He had worked “ night and day” that he might not “ burden any” of them with his sup port. Supporting himself by his hard manual labor, he had preached the Gospel of God unto them without charge (cf. 2 Thess. 3:8; Acts 20:34). Paul had learned the trade of a tent maker (Acts 18:3), cutting out and stitching goats’ hair cloth. It was hard and perhaps not very remunerative labor; but Paul did it very cheerfully to support himself and companion while they preached (Acts 20:34). What an example for those who are not so anx-
THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NESS ious to preach the Gospel but what they will keep still rather than preach for a smaller salary than they think they ought to command. And there are those today who because they believe they have been called to preach will not at any time do any secular labor, for they imagine that they would be turning their back when once they had put their hand to the plough. Of course there is no warrant for any such opin ion in the Bible. If there was ever anyone definitely called to preach the Gospel, it was Paul, and yet he sup ported himself by manual labor. Paul’s walk among the believers in Thessalon ica had been holy, righteous and unblamable. It had been just what it ought to -be in every respect, both toward men and God. It was particu larly toward believers (“ toward you that believe” ) that this holy, just and unblamable conduct had been exhibited. Paul called them arid God to bear wit ness to it. Paul was a great preacher because he was an even greater liver. In the 11th verse Paul describes his conduct among them and that of his companions more specifically. He had dealt with them “ as a father with his own children.” And that not with an occasional one of them, but “ each one” of them. It was not only in public address that he had thus dealt with them, but in private as well (cf. Acts 20:20). He had used exhortation and encouragement and solemn testimony to the truth. The purpose of all this fatherly dealing with each one, “ exhort ing” and “ encouraging” and “ testify ing” was, “ to the end that ye should walk worthily of God” (cf. Col. 1:10; Rom. 16:2, R. V.; Phil. 1:27, R. V.; Eph. 4 :1 ). The reason why they should “ walk worthily of God” was because he had called them “ into His own kingdom and glory.” If we do not walk worthily of the God who has called us, His name will be blasphemed (Rom. 2:24), and such a lofty call lays us un der very solemn obligations to walk worthily of Him who called us. How high this calling is, “ into His own kingdom,” and not only so, but also, “ into His own glory,” i. e., into a share in the glory of the infinite God (cf. John 17:22; Col. 3:4, R. V.; Rom. 8: 1.7). MONDAY, Dec. 30. 1 Thess. 2:13. ' Paul now turns from the way in which he and his associates had preach-
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