Have you ever faced opposition when attempting to do good? Was it from those who did not want to see things change? Was it from people who preferred to continue in their wrongful ways? Did you have the courage to do good anyway? Where did your strength come from?
Facing opposition is common when we seek to change people. The one thing that is constant is change. Yet change is something people do not like. We all prefer to keep things going the way they are. We like the routine. We like to feel comfortable in knowing what to expect.
The Apostle Paul and those with him had faced fierce opposition in Philippi. Though they were able to speak on the gospel, they were mistreated for doing so. When they arrived in Thessalonica, they were a haggard group, worn out physically and likely psychologically drained. Regardless of the way they felt, they pressed on to spread the gospel, even though they faced similar opposition in Thessalonica. Paul is reminding the believers of his own struggles against opposition to encourage them to hold onto their faith while facing the same opposition. He is telling them to remember his experience and follow his example.
We can use Paul’s encouragement for those situations in which we face opposition. It does not mean we are to be head strong and overbearing. In fact, Paul states he was as gentle as nurse tending to her own children (v.7). We are to have the intestinal fortitude to continue to spread the gospel in the face of opposition while doing so with gentleness and a love for the people. We are to continue with reverence toward God, carrying out his will.
I pray we all understand the opposition Paul faced. I pray we are encouraged by Paul’s continued spreading of the gospel. I pray each one of us will tell others about Jesus with gentleness and strength. Know you will face opposition. Be encouraged. Tell others about Jesus with gentleness. Carry out God’s will.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-2 You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition.
