Morning Thoughts - by Elder Philip Conley

Morning Thoughts

I Thessalonians 4:9-10, "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;"

This morning, many people mistake their function, and at other times, they mistake the duration of their function. In a secular sense, we have people in offices across the land that believe their job to be something other than what it is. At my place of employment, a lot of people cringe at things that are "beneath them" and think that is not their job, and other "more noble" efforts are theirs for the taking when really that job belongs to their superior. Also, we have people that "stop short" in their job leaving it only half-done. In both cases, there is a blinded view of what the job is and its duration till completion. Sadly, this mindset is not restricted to a secular sense, but many have such skewed perspectives theologically in their course of spiritual labour here on earth. It is this realm of discussion that we would like to see what our function in God's kingdom is, and what the duration might be.

As Paul is comforting these dear saints at Thessalonica, he will eventually speak in some of the richest tones about the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. These comforting phrases continue to the point of us being surely with Him at that day, regardless of what happens between now and then. (I Thessalonians 4:13-5:10) However, before Paul enters that realm of discussion, he gives a very pointed discussion about our lives here between now and then. There is no mistake that our lives do not ever change that outcome as Christ has secured it for us, but Paul does not want these beloved brethren to lose sight of their function or the duration of it. Paul has no qualms about their eternal state, and their joyful reception of the gospel message was assuring to him that they were indeed Christ's beloved brethren. (I Thessalonians 1:4-5) Paul goes on, in our verses, to show where that behavior came from. What made them have love one to another?
Where did love in their life come from?

Paul attributes the application of love to their souls to God Himself. No other source can be given, for since He is love, He must be the source of our love. They are taught of God to love one another, and the preacher cannot put this in. Like as God had to put the love into the hearts of His children, He must have put in the joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23) as well. As these things are fruit of His Holy Spirit, the function of bestowing them cannot be attributed elsewhere. No one can look to the preacher to give them love. God must do that. No one can look to the preacher, mom, dad, brother, sister, or friend to give them faith or hope. God must do that too. Without His work and function of bestowing these things to us, no one would have ever rejoiced in a Savior's love, given heed to the gospel message, or shown forth charity in their lives to their neighbor and fellowman.

Now, since it is not the job of the preacher or any other kingdom labourer to bestow the love, faith, etc, who keeps the duration of these things? As the Lord only can bestow them, the Lord only keeps them through all eternity. Since His love is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3), the keeping of this love unto the elect family of God is His job alone, and He fully understands the duration of this function to be forever and ever. Paul, nor any other writer, exhorts the family of God to keep themselves in these things, or more descriptively, they never exhort the family of God through fear of the possibility of losing them. Rather, the New Testament epistles are filled with another type of exhortation that carries a far different function, and Paul speaks of it here.

As Paul understands that the Thessalonians were given love by God and had shown this love to one another, he did not feel compelled to exhort them to get it (they already had it), nor did he feel compelled to exhort them to start showing it (they already were). Rather, he felt compelled to exhort them by way of joyfulness to continue in it more and more. There are some brethren that have shown more love to their fellow brethren than others. Perhaps some have waxed cold in their tenderness to one another, while others have remained steadfast in their zeal to be kindly affectionate to one another. Regardless of whether great or small, Paul shows that everyone can be exhorted to show it more and more. As he began this chapter, Paul says that the things they learned of him and were taught should abound more and more. (Verse 1)

The function of the minister or other kingdom laborer is not to impart these lively functions (God does that), but the function that we have one to another is show more of these lively functions and encourage one another in them. Much like tending plants, they require daily attention with the weeding, watering, fertilizing, and nurturing. He blesses us with increase, and He certainly has blessed us with the life. May we bless each other in our actions of love and kindness to each other on a daily basis to encourage one another in the Lord. Consider for a moment a comparison. While the games of comparison are generally used to show forth self-justification of our own actions, let us use comparison for a moment to show forth renewed service in our life.

The Thessalonians were more zealous and diligent than some of the other churches that Paul dealt with. The Roman church, and especially the Corinthian church, had problems that seem very absent from places like Thessalonica, Philippi, and Colosse (based on the epistles). However, each of the latter churches received good instruction to show forth what they were doing even more than they were currently. Perhaps sometimes we look at ourselves or our home church and say, "Well I/we do not have the problems they do over there." Perhaps the observation is quite valid. However valid that observation might be, it still does not change what our course should be. No matter the comparison employed, our course is to abound more and more in the things we have been exhorted unto.

Many times, people will say, "I have already heard a sermon on that before. I have already been told that." John the Baptist is spoken of by the Lord Himself as the greatest born of women (Matthew 11:11), and yet, this great man who had the singular privilege of baptizing the Lord of Glory had to be told again the most basic of things regarding his Lord. (Matthew 11:5) This great individual lost sight of the fact that this One was the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. How much more can we lose sight of these things? How much more do we need to be hearing sound doctrine of the everlasting love of God bestowed unto His people in the Person of Jesus Christ and through the Divine acts of election, predestination, calling, justification, and eventual glorification? How much more do we need to hear of how He lived and showed forth love time and time again upon those unworthy of His favour and kindness? Truly, as much as we may abound in our love one to another, I can certainly stand to hear it again. As much as I have heard of the love that God Almighty has bestowed upon me, I can certainly stand to hear it again.

How long do I need to hear it again? How long should I be exhorted in these things? As the plants should be growing and tended until the end of their existence here, so should our service be growing and tended until we lay down in death. There never comes a point when we can say our love has abounded enough, our faith increased enough, or our patience been shown forth sufficiently. As God's dear children and fellow laborers' and brethren, may we grip the plow firmly until that final hour when we can sing, "Thus far the Lord has led me on, Thus far His power prolongs my days, And every evening shall make known, Some fresh memorials of His grace." Knowing that the duration of God's function in love to us is forever, we can labor without fear of what Paul will later discuss - Christ's return. Knowing that His function is forever, we can boldly say, "Even so come, Lord Jesus." We can comfort one another with the glorious words of His return, and we can take comfort in those already gone on to be with Him - their service here ended - and know that we will not prevent them on that day but come forth at once together in His glorious image in that perfect sunshine of the Son of God.

In Hope,

Bro Philip