God Called You. 1st Thessalonians 2:12 Building meaningful relationships takes time. The three men who came to Thessalonica and from whom this letter originated were "pray-ers" [v.13] as well as fathers, brothers, nurses, and evangelists. In trying to strengthen God's people, we need patience because failures will happen. Everyone trips up sometimes, and we shouldn't take it personally if someone stumbles. Reproof from a father is justified and necessary from time to time to address issues.
Paul, through his words and example, challenged believers to think and act in ways that honor and accurately represent God in daily life. Our daily activities reveal who we truly are inside. Moral behavior, how we speak to others, our attitude, and our tone of voice are ways we “walk” in the eyes of others. God is holy, and He wants His children to be holy like Him in their walk, words, and actions. Because we are His children, we should imitate God. We should strive to grow in our Christian life and work, knowing we are part of the kingdom of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Sovereign Ruler of this unseen kingdom.
A kingdom is not a physical place but a realm governed by a king, and his subjects submit to his authority and leadership. Rules and laws keep order among the people in the kingdom. The behavior of the subjects and their attitude toward the king are what make a kingdom a happy and successful place to live.
In the kingdom of God, outward actions can show our allegiance to the King, but more importantly, inward responses of obedience and joy come from the hearts of those who belong to Him. Living worthy of God brings righteousness, peace, and joy to those who love Him and follow His commands; it also brings glory to God even during times of suffering and trials beyond our control. Our role in God's kingdom is to live in a way that honors Him through our service, our actions in the world, and our attitude toward His people.
As those who care, we need to be those who pray as intercessors. Our ministry to those in Christ is to help the whole person, not just challenge their intellect. Strengthening the mind will also strengthen the emotional life. Our emotions influence our physical health. Our physical life impacts the spiritual, and the spiritual affects the social life of a believer. As human beings, each part of us influences the other parts, both positively and negatively.
When a new Christian becomes both a friend and a learner, they will see that our concern for them is genuine—not just a task we must do. At the same time, we need to recognize that a leader must be respected in a relationship for their instruction to be taken seriously. Leaders must know where they are headed and how to get there. Assurance of salvation and understanding one's position in Christ are the starting points. From there, we move on to what it means to be consistent in the Christian life by learning the importance of devotional life, fellowship with God and others, and the fundamental truths we need to understand and why.
Stability in doctrine and Christ-likeness is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit in one's life, and growing strong in the Lord is what we aim for as mature believers who seek to help others grow. As children of God apply what they learn from the word of God, we will see evidence of a desire to reproduce, demonstrated through an interest in others. Understanding the value of Bible doctrines is followed by a devotional life that shows how truths learned become truths enjoyed and integrated into one's life. An active devotional life naturally develops into active discipleship, fulfilling the commission the Lord Jesus Christ gave. The work of God is established and advanced by those who possess the character of a servant, enabling them to effectively do the work of a servant.