Your So (not) Vain

1 Thessalonians 2:1
For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

I have been pondering on my actions! As I read these verses, I think about my simple daily interaction with others! I believe that it is no accident that we come into contact with scores of people each and everyday. Some of these meetings are casual and others are much more than that.

When I actually interact with someone, I often wonder "What does that person think after our meeting?" Was it vain or was it productive. Was it God centered or was it worldly? Were they pleased or displeased?

The Apostle is telling us that the contact he made was a purpose driven encounter. He desired to allow the Lord Jesus Christ to flow through him. He wanted God to shine in every area of every encounter, even in the face and aftermath of tribulation and hurt!

Entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

It is an extreme honor to be used of God! We don't take time to think that being used by God carries with it a huge responsibility to make a truthful impression on others, but it does!

From the very first second we become a Christian, we are, on the Lord's mission. We are redeemed, purchased and bought with a price, we are no longer our own. We now belong to Jesus! Every time we contact another person we represent the Master! We are sent to deliver His word.

We must be aware of the fact that when we get any entrance into another person's life, it should be productive in a Godly manner!

But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated,

We should never be surprised when things happen to us! As a servant of the living God, I need to know that at one point or another someone that I contact will cause me to suffer. We are promised that things will sometimes be rough and no one is exempt.

Suffering is a great teacher and reminder. Suffering helps us to do our jobs better and helps us to be sensitive to the needs, wants, and feelings of others. Suffering is not necessarily a bad thing. The process of suffering is designed to refine us and make us more valuable for God and to others.

Our verse tells of being shamefully entreated. For the Christian the hardest part is, most of the time when we are shamefully entreated it is done by another brother or sister in Christ. It is usually done by someone that we have invested a lot of time, energy, effort, and tears in. It is hard to accept this treatment from another child of God.... But, it does happen and more than likely it will happen soon to you and me!

We were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

The Apostle, helps to refocus us from our trials and tribulations, to the command of our Heavenly Father. We are not given a pass, when it comes to being a witness. We never are allowed to quit our servant position. There is no good reason to fail at the job of spreading the Gospel message!

The Apostle reminds the hearers that never once did he cease to proclaim the word of God to them. He give us a lot of reasons he could have stopped! He had a lot of reasons to stop, but never once did he fall back on any excuse not to witness. Things like; suffering, shamefully entreated, ans even in much contention. He continued on the task that was set before him. we too should never quit, but through it all, never, never, never give up. There is no reason to, short of death!

We always do well to remember this simple truth: Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me, Not for the years of time alone, But for eternity.

So are you so (not) vain?