Daily Devotional for Wednesday, April 10

Paul the Parent

“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,” 1 Thessalonians 2:11, 12.

In today’s passage, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 11, 12, we can feel Paul’s, Silas’ and Timothy’s love for the believers in Thessalonica. The three men were gentle among them and so “affectionately desirous” of them that they would have willingly poured their own souls into them. The believers were dear to them, and they were spiritual fathers to the believers. The team worked hard, and they were committed and careful to be good examples of how to live holy and blameless lives. This is just like parenthood. We strive to show our children how to follow Jesus because we love them. They have been entrusted to us, and we care deeply for their souls.

Teachers, youth pastors and professors all feel this as well. We nurse our students along in their faith and share our ministry with them. We share the gospel in meaningful ways and share life with them so they can see what it means to walk with Jesus. In the process, they become dear to us as we watch God’s Word take root in their hearts. We want them to hold tightly to Jesus, His Word and their faith in Him.

Whether we are in official teaching roles or not, we all have younger believers behind us. This is a good time to reflect, pray and adjust. We need to pray for the young believers in our midst and pray for ourselves. Are we giving ourselves while giving the gospel? Are we exhorting, comforting and charging each believer to walk worthy of God? We have all been called into God’s kingdom and glory. Are we encouraging the young ones among us along their way?

THOUGHT
“Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers” (3 John 5).

Kelli Reynolds