事奉的典范
帖撒罗尼迦前书二章1至12节
1弟兄们，你们自己原晓得我们进到你们那里并不是徒然的。
2我们从前在腓立比被害受辱，这是你们知道的；然而还是靠我们的神放开胆量，在大争战中把神的福音传给你们。
3我们的劝勉，不是出于错误，不是出于污秽，也不是用诡诈。
4但神既然验中了我们，把福音托付我们，我们就照样讲，不是要讨人喜欢，乃是要讨那察验我们心的神喜欢。
5因为我们从来没有用过谄媚的话，这是你们知道的；也没有藏着贪心，这是神可以作见证的。
6我们作基督的使徒，虽然可以叫人尊重，却没有向你们或向别人求荣耀，
7只在你们中间存心温柔，如同母亲乳养自己的孩子。
8我们既是这样爱你们，不但愿意将神的福音给你们，连自己的性命也愿意给你们，因你们是我们所疼爱的。
9弟兄们，你们记念我们的辛苦劳碌，昼夜做工，传神的福音给你们，免得叫你们一人受累。
10我们向你们信主的人，是何等圣洁、公义，无可指摘，有你们作见证，也有神作见证。
11你们也晓得我们怎样劝勉你们，安慰你们，嘱咐你们各人，好像父亲待自己的儿女一样。
12要叫你们行事对得起那召你们进他国、得他荣耀的神。
信息分享
保罗曾在腓立比为基督的缘故受苦（2节）；但即使如此，也没有拦阻他在帖撒罗尼迦忠心传讲福音。
他自言在他们中间的事奉，如同管家之外，更如同他们的母亲和父亲。他是管家，因神已将福音托付给他（4节），他的事奉与动机都是求神的喜悦甚于人的赞赏（5至6节）。
他在他们中间时，如同母亲温柔地牧养他们（7节）。有些人甚至在传讲基督的时候，也表现得毫无爱心，或是对别人的生活方式作无谓的批评，这是十分可悲的。保罗绝不会如此。
此外，保罗又像父亲待儿女那样，不会期望初信者供应他的需要（10-11节）；反而像父亲般鼓励和安慰他们。他以身作则为他们立下典范，让他们明白救主期望他们如何生活。今天我们称之为「门徒培训」。我们却经常忽略初信者需要我们用心扶持和培养，只让他们挣扎求存。保罗绝不会这样。
让我们今天坐言起行，主动联络一位初信者（或任何一位信徒），鼓励他在新生命中不断成长吧！
紧记：一句鼓励的话，可以使一个灰心丧志的人，从新振作起来，继续在信仰的路上奔跑。
A MODEL FOR MINISTRY
1 Thessalonians 2: 1-12
1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.
2 But even[a] after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.
3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.
4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.
5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness.
6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.
7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe;
11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged[b] every one of you, as a father does his own children,
12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Message
Paul himself had suffered in Philippi for the sake of the Gospel (v.2), but even that did not stop him from faithfully preaching the same message at Thessalonica.
He spoke of his ministry there as being that of a steward, a mother, and a father. As a steward he was entrusted with the Gospel (v.4). In his ministry and in his motives (v.5-6) he was more concerned with God's approval than with the praise of men.
As a mother, he dealt gently with them while he was there (v.7). It is tragically possible to be unloving even in telling others about Christ or to be unnecessarily critical and judgmental of their lifestyle. That was not Paul's way.
As a father (vv.10-11) he did not expect the new converts to provide his needs. And he also made sure he encouraged and comforted them as a father would his children. He set standards for them trying to help them know how their new found Saviour wanted them to live. Today we call this "discipling". Too often we tend to neglect new converts and leave them to struggle along on their own. That was not Paul's way.
Why not think today of a new Christian (or an older one) and contact him, just to encourage and help him in his new life? Who can you call or write to? Do it today.
REMEMBER: A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GIVING UP AND GOING ON.