September 30
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PAUL’S MEMORY OF HIS VISIT TO THESSALONICA
A poem by ILMA
We declare the Good News entrusted to us and approved by God
Our sole purpose in bringing the gospel in order to please God, not men
God alone examines the motives of our hearts so never used flattery
We never pretend to be your friends just to get your money.
Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you?
Night and day, we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to anyone
You are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless And, you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.
We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live to please the Lord
For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory, so always be full of gratitude
You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is
And this word continues to work in you, all of those who believe.
Dear brothers and sisters, you suffered persecution from your own people
In this way, you imitated the believers in God’s churches in Judea
They failed to please God and work against all humanity
They try to keep us from preaching the Good News of salvation to the Gentiles.
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MEMORY VERSE
For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. – 1 Thessalonians 2:4
Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:4-16
In this recollection of Paul of his visit to Thessalonica, we see how he reminded the people of all the hard work the apostles did and how they kept their integrity to bring the Good News. His main goal to reach them and bring the gospel as God wants them to do. He reminds them that the word of God should continue to touch them to please God.
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REFLECTION
• Do you ensure integrity when you preach the Good News to others?