PODCAST
Parental Love
June 8th, 2021
1 Thessalonians 2:9-16
Paul loves this community in Thessalonica that became the church. He and his ministry companions lived there with these Christian converts, shepherding and guiding them in this new life they had found in Christ. Not as a heavy-handed disciplinarian, but as a parent who works patiently with their children, Paul labored with them “as a father deals with his own children,” a gentle and gracious guide (v. 11b).
It’s the aim of the Christian to live lives worthy of this gracious God who calls us into his kingdom and glory. As disciples, we are called to model this grace-full way of holy love as we work to engage others in our shared work of making disciples. When a child learns to ride a bicycle, a parent doesn’t yell at them for falling. A loving parent runs to the child to make sure the little one is not hurt. A quick brush-off, a hug, and a return to the bike seat, the parent cheers on the child as his legs pump and push the pedals down the street. Anything but love and grace, care and encouragement, in the way of discipleship isn’t the way of the kingdom.
Author: Michael Scarlett
