(April 19, 2024) Brian Bell shares ‘get real’ thoughts drawn from reading Paul’s 1Thessalonians 2NLT…

Perhaps like me, when you were growing up, you may have tried to imitate other people at times. In my generation it was not unusual for young boys to have a ‘cowboy suit’ which they would wear to ‘act’ like a real cowboy.

A television series The Lone Ranger was very popular then. In order to hide his real identity, the Ranger wore a face mask, although he was in his character role one of the ‘good guys.’ Zorro, another one of the good guys, also wore a mask to disguise his real identity.

When we come to Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, although the word ‘real’ is not used by Paul, he reflects on how he sought to live without any pretence or disguise… and get real, be real!

Real Message
In verses 1-3 Paul reflects on how he was mistreated in Philippi for speaking the message and yet in coming to Thessalonica God enabled him to ‘declare…Good News boldly… even though we were surrounded by many who opposed us.’

Paul who had once violently opposed the message he was now declaring, knew the reality of an encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road. The ‘Pharisee of Pharisees’ as he once described himself had learned the foolishness of trying to earn righteousness and knew his salvation was a gift of God made real only in Jesus.

In verse 3 Paul explains the evidence of this real message was that he did not have any ‘hidden agendas’ when he says, ‘so you can see we were not speaking with any deceit or impure purposes or trickery.’

After his conversion Paul was one of the good guys, but he had no need of a mask, and indeed would not want one to disguise his real identity. He was –

(i) Real Before God
In verse 4 Paul says, ‘Our purpose is to please God, not people. He is the one who examines our hearts.’

The apostle knew that his heart (as is ours) was an open book before a Holy God before whom pretending is futile!

(ii) Real Before People
In verses 5-8 Paul says, ‘we were not just pretending to be your friends, so you would give us money’ and in verses 6-8 explains this more fully –

• He did not seek praise from anyone.
• He did not seek to exercise any ‘rights’ and
• He gave himself fully to the well-being of those early believers.

The Greeks and Romans of Paul’s day would have been well used to ‘playacting’ as they attended theatres, applauded, cheered and maybe even revered the actors who made their living from the money and influence gained from their profession. However, Paul was not an actor in some well scripted play.

Real Ministry
In verses 9-11 Paul writes ‘how hard we worked among you.’ Paul is not boasting, he is reflecting on the reality of Christian ministry when he says, ‘we toiled to earn a living so that our expenses would not be a burden to anyone there as we preached God’s Good News among you.’

In the established Christian church as we know it today there is not much itinerant ministry. However it is common practice for church fellowships to make financial provision so that if possible those who are in a settled ministry such as pastor, or missionary, have no need to earn an independent living as Paul had to.

Real Living
In verses 12-13 Paul reflects on how he encouraged the Thessalonian believers and urged them to ‘live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy.’

God’s standard of worthiness is well beyond ours, as Romans 3:23 reminds us, we all fall short of God’s glory, so for our salvation Jesus is the only one who meets the standard on our behalf, we are only worthy because of Him.

This encouragement from Paul was not about following a set of religious rules, or good practices such as meeting together for fellowship; he was not promoting ‘perfectionism’.

Paul was encouraging these believers as they engaged in the routines or work of their everyday life (many would have been servants or slaves). It is really about perspective and another way of saying what Paul shared with the Colossian believers – ‘work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people’ (Colossians 3:23NLT).

Real Opposition
In 1Thessalonians 2:14-16 Paul speaks about the persecution faced by the Thessalonians from their own countrymen.

Here in the United Kingdom where I live as a Christian believer, we do not experience the kind of violent persecution or opposition Paul shares in these verses.

I must add though that in recent years there has been more opposition to the proclamation of the gospel message here, particularly to what we call ‘open air or street evangelism.’ Yet we still enjoy a tremendous liberty to meet together without fear – unlike many believers in parts of South America, Africa and Asia for example.

Real Reward
Finally, in verses 17- 20 Paul makes it clear that despite the opposition they had experienced, it was his knowing the Thessalonian believers were continuing firm in their faith which Paul values as a reward for his labour.

Real Application
Getting real is not a light thing, as adults and Christian believers today we may find it a challenge. In Romans 12 (NLT) speaking about relationships Paul writes ‘Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.’

In the Garden of Eden, Satan pretended to be interested in the welfare of Adam and Eve, but in reality he was subverting God’s word, when he spoke deceitfully and sowed doubt in their minds, a technique he still uses today!

Adam and Eve’s disobedience is what we call sin and every generation since that time has inherited a sinful nature which also includes the capacity to engage in pretence.

I must be very honest and say I cannot claim never to have acted in pretence during my adult life. Each day I ask the Lord for the enabling of the Holy Spirit to help me live like Paul without any pretence or disguise.

This is not an effort to please people, not an attempt at justification by self-righteousness, but a real worthy God-honouring, Christ-exalting goal for any Christian believer.

I finish by sharing the words of a very old song For me to live is Christ (based on Paul’s words in Philippians 1:21) composed by J White (copyright 1969). As you read the words use them as a prayer –

For me to live is Christ to die is gain
To hold His hand and walk His narrow way
There is no peace no joy no thrill like walking in His will
For me to live is Christ to die is gain.

Now once my heart was full of sin and shame
‘Til someone told me Jesus came to save
When He said ‘come home to me,’ He set my poor heart free
For me to live is Christ to die is gain.

Now there are things that I still do not know
But of this one thing I’m completely sure
He who called me on that day washed all my sin away
For me to live is Christ to die is gain.

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Brian Bell is a diaconate member, Christ Church (Congregational) Abbots Cross, Northern Ireland. Brian describes himself as ‘grateful for the privilege and opportunity given me to serve my Lord.’
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