August 7, 2010
1 Thessalonians 2:1-2
V 2 …we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict
Paul epitomizes preaching the gospel in conflict; to name a few, he suffered beatings, false accusations, and prison. His body was marked by the scares he carried as a result of this conflict and his unwillingness to give up. Yet, he persevered. Of course this was not a testament to his strength but rather, a testament to the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit. We can look in awe at Paul’s ability to share and spread the gospel at any cost, but the same power resides in every believer. Recently I came to the realization that if someone is going to ridicule me for making a decision based on God’s direction why should I feel bad about it. Why should I be the one forced to defend my actions? I need no one’s approval but isn’t it interesting that often my actions reflect my need for approval. God’s word says “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7).” Perhaps, I need to live like I have this “power” within me, and not cower at the least little opposition.
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