“that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12, NKJV)
Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians has been filled with ways he has been an influence in their lives. Clearly, he did not come as some snake oil salesman to line his own pockets. Nor did he approach them with aloofness. No, Paul came to them with great compassion. He genuinely cared as he labored among them.
The apostle began his letter with an expression of prayer that included gratitude toward God and intercession for them. He ministered God’s word to them and was delighted to see that ministry blessed by the Holy Spirit. But what stands out throughout his epistle is the personal connection he has with them. He regularly opens his heart up to them.
Paul’s ambition is not to accumulate followers to himself or to enhance his own reputation. In fact, he does his best to point them to Jesus, even as he calls attention to his own behavior.
In a sense, Paul lays out a mission statement for his ministry among the Thessalonians: “that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:12). Paul’s service had to do with God’s kingdom and glory and not his own. The word “that” could be expressed “unto.” Paul is identifying what he is shooting for, what he hopes to accomplish through his efforts.
And what is Paul’s ambition? That they walk worthy of the kingdom into which the Spirit has brought them. We can get an idea of what this means by Paul’s use of the expression elsewhere. In respect to the kingdom of God, the apostle speaks of God’s deliverance from the power of darkness and transference into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Col. 1:13-14). That redemptive change is the basis for walking worthy: “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10; see also Eph. 4:1-3).
How did Paul work to this goal of helping them to walk worthy? Certainly through prayer, but here he highlights two things. One, his personal example: “You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe” (1 Thess. 2:10). In saying this, Paul is not gloating or showboating. Rather, he is boasting in Christ and what He has accomplished.
The other thing highlighted by Paul is the approach by which he carried out his ministry: “as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children” (1 Thess. 2:11). How does a father nurture his children? Certainly by his example but also by his instruction.
Paul mentions three ways of instruction. He exhorted and urged them. There was nothing dispassionate about Paul’s engagement with the Thessalonians. He did not give them some sort of academic lesson they could take or leave. Rather, he brought to bear the counsel of God.
Paul also comforted them. It’s the same word used of Jesus’ ministry to Martha and Mary at the death of their brother, Lazarus. This suggests that the apostle’s ministry among them was not heavy-handed or authoritarian. He did not lord himself over them. Toward the close of his letter, Paul will commend the approach he has demonstrated to their treatment of one another. “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Thess. 5:14).
Finally, Paul brings an air of authority to his dealings when he says he charges every one. The term carries the weight of insistence, like a father taking a firm hand with his children calling them to individual responsibility.
What means does God give us for kingdom influence?
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
