Holy Trinity Bukit Bintang
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Lent Devotion

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"At the Foot of the Cross" is an annual Lenten devotion written by clergy and lay leaders in the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia. This devotion has been faithfully produced since 1992 and this year's theme is on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Join us as we journey together towards the foot of the cross.

 
 

22 February - God-pleasing Conduct

 

“For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.”

1 Thessalonians 2:3-5

 

We have seen so far in Paul’s letter that he is thankful to God for the Thessalonians because they exemplify faith, hope and love in Jesus despite suffering, thereby becoming an example to believers in Macedonia and Achaia. Paul reminds them that he and his team, too, had suffered conflict as they preached the gospel in Philippi.

Then, in verses 3-5, the focus of our devotion today, Paul asserts that their bravery in preaching the gospel is because they have been entrusted with it; it is not a message they made up, it is not for selfish gain, nor is it to deceive the Thessalonians into believing something that is not true. And Paul is confident that God is their witness to the intentions of their hearts as he affirms that they did not approach the Thessalonians with flattery, nor for monetary gain.

In these verses, Paul models how we are to conduct our ministry. If we are leaders of a ministry, how do we conduct ourselves? If we have leaders to submit to in ministry, how do we conduct ourselves?

The gospel that Paul, and us in our ministries, bring to others is that we have sinned against a holy God, but God in his mercy saved us from his wrath by sending his Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sin so that, bearing Jesus’ righteousness, we can be reconciled to him and stand before him in heaven.

The rest of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians underscores this truth as he reminds them how they are to live and please God as Christians and asks that they encourage each other with the hope that they will be with Jesus when he comes again (4:1-17).

Do our lives bear witness to the gospel of salvation we received? Do we lead as though we have been entrusted with the gospel? Are we more concerned with God’s glory, or our own popularity? Are we discerning of those whom we choose to be our leaders?

Are we resolved to encourage each other with the hope and future we have in Jesus Christ? Like Paul, we know that God is our witness, so let’s be faithful to the gospel work we are called to, standing firm in him to the very end.

PONDER

Haste thee on from grace to glory,

Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.

Heaven’s eternal days before thee,

God’s own hand shall guide us there.

Soon shall close thy earthly mission,

Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,

Hope shall change to glad fruition,

Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

Text from “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken” by Henry Francis Lyte

PROMISE

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”

PRAYER

Thank God for giving us the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We ask that his Spirit always guide us in our ministries so that we may be good witnesses of the gospel to non-Christians and an encouragement to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Article by Mrs Melissa Raj, the Chairperson of the Diocesan Youth Council. Melissa worships at St Mary’s Cathedral – SMACC, Kuala Lumpur.

HTBB