Thoughts for another day


November 10, 2010

Today's verse: 1 Thess. 2:4. But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

God gives men offices to represent Him and He entrusts the Gospel to them to give to others, pure and unalloyed. We, who are appointed to this office are supposed to be giving attention to the Gospel and deliver it to those we come in contact with in the same manner we received it, without adding our own bit, simply because when we add our own bit, it ceases to be God's Word and as a consequence, God's power doesn't operate in that Word.

Countless are the times when we take the Word of God and in giving it to the people, tend to compromise with it, not really because we want to but because we feel the people will be pleased if the Word were to be tailored according to their comfort and match their moods, rather than their Spiritual need which alone God addresses in the Word He gives. Sometimes we tend to put God's wisdom on the back burner and give our own wisdom thinking our wisdom will serve them better. This happens particularly when we want to tell people to fast and pray which is what God requires of us, yet the people don't want to, as I recently learnt when I told people. So what do we do, tell the people its okay if they don't fast!!! And of course, we also tell them that a little prayer would suffice, when we should tell them that they should pray for a length of time which would enable them know God.

So there's dilution in the Word of God, just because we want to please men. In this we don't please God and the very reason for the delivery of the Gospel is tossed in the wind. Our Scripture today reminds us that it's better we please God than men; it may be difficult sometimes as we will see rebellion when we don't please men, but if we are steadfast in our resolve to please God, He will fight for us and He will bring the people around to learn to respect us and trust us to be their shepherds eventually.