Select a Ring of Truth daily devotion online
Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
Select the date to display the devotion for:
1 Thessalonians 2:8
“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the Gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”
This is the key to church growth.
Thousands of dollars have been ‘invested’ in church growth seminars, but without understanding and living out this ‘key’, they are pointless. We all want strategies and results without really becoming involved.
Remember the old joke about the pig and the chicken. Both were walking down the road past a church with the billboard –
“Ham and egg breakfast to raise funds for the restoration of the building.” “Look,” said the chicken – “they couldn’t do it without me!” “Hmm,” said the pig – “You’re right. But whereas you give a token gesture, I become ‘fully involved’.”
Most of us want the church to grow without it having an effect or impact on our lives and lifestyle. “We don’t want to go ‘overboard’ on this Christianity thing.” “God doesn’t want us to become peculiar or exclusive.” True, but He does want us to become passionately involved.
What did Paul say, “we loved you so much”? That’s it. That’s the real answer. You see, Paul had tuned in to God. He had tapped into the Father’s Heart. “God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son” (John 3:16). God couldn't give anything more. He gave His all; He gave His best. He held nothing back. He ‘emptied’ Heaven. Paul recognised what God had done, and through His strength and an understanding of His love and grace to Paul, he could do no less.
We talk about being passionately in love with our spouse, or boy/girlfriend. Listen – we don’t even know what love really is until we are passionately in love both with God and the purposes of God. We only love at all because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). We can know all the strategies, all the theories, have all the programmes and technology, but unless we love – we are no more than a sounding brass or tinkling cymbal (see 1Corinthians 13).
Yes, we need strategies and good presentations but they will never satisfy. Love, love, love, and a passion for the lost - like the Father’s Heart - is the Key.
“We were delighted to share with you… the Gospel.” Do we “delight” in sharing the Gospel? If not, we don’t even know God, let alone follow and serve Him.
“Not only of the Gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” Listen. Who do you share your life with? Who, outside of your family, do you love sufficiently dearly so as to share your life with them?
It was the way of Jesus – It was the way of Paul - and it is the way of all true disciples of Jesus. Our job is to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). Who are you working with? We need to ‘invest’ in people and in their lives – and it takes time and effort.
Who is really “dear” to you?
Is there anyone you love enough to not only “share… the Gospel” with them but also your “[life] as well”?
Download the above Ring of Truth devotion as a PDF.
Previous Day's Devotion | Next Day's Devotion
To subscribe to this daily devotion by email visit our Daily Email subscription page.
