Sharing the Gospel in Power … Like a Nursing Mother

Do you share the gospel? If so, how?

In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul tells them that his gospel "did not come to [them] in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit with full conviction" (1:5).

Upon reading that, it's easy to think that Paul came with a boldness that was primarily characterized by assertive or even abrasive speech. His aim, after all, was to preach the unadulterated gospel and not just what men needed to hear.

This is why he goes on to tell them that he and his friends have "been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so [they] speak, not as pleasing to men, but God who examines [their] hearts" (2:4).

It is essential for us to understand this as we share the gospel – if we are sharing in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be doing so without catering to what our listeners want to hear.

However, does his "full conviction" concerning the truth of the gospel translate into him lording it over people, impatiently pushing them to understand and obey, and holding them in contempt if they don't? Or does his confidence in the gospel result in a confidence in himself as a minister of it?

No!

Paul says that he and his fellow apostles were gentle among the Thessalonians and cared for them like a nursing mother would care for her own children (2:7).

Stop and really think about that.

Not exactly what we normally picture when we think of someone being "manly," is it? Yet here it is being exalted by God as a model for all who would share the gospel, especially those men who proclaim God's Word to His people.

It is the calling of all children of God. While the immediate context implies that we are to have this attitude toward those we are discipling in the faith, we are not to push and press and become arrogant toward those who don't hold to our gospel or toward those who are immature and, like us, have much need to grow in it. Instead, we are called to show loving affection toward all people, nurturing them and caring for them – imparting to them both the gospel and also our very lives, dying to ourselves and to our schedules to see Christ formed in them (2:8).

It is in meekness, which is really just desperate and humble reliance upon the Spirit of God, that the gospel is shared in power and with full conviction. God has given us the treasure of the gospel in our weakness so that the surpassing greatness of its power would be of God and not from ourselves (2 Cor. 4:7).

It must be our prayer and hope that God would work in us this gentle and nurturing affection for all people so that the gospel may sound forth from us in power and so that God might grant others repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth (2 Tim. 1:25).