Daily Thought

A study of Paul’s missionary journeys will show that he was not haphazard in his evangelistic work, but he operated very strategically. On leaving Philippi the apostle, together with Silas, continued his journey westward passing through a couple of cities en route to Thessalonica. His aim was to reach this thriving metropolis, located on a major transport route, and see a new church commence. The new assembly could then evangelize the surrounding areas and also reach further out by witnessing to those who were passing through.

In one of the readings last week we noted that Paul was an intelligent preacher, for whilst he never attempted to appease his audience, he always presented the gospel in a manner appropriate to those he addressed. Look at the wise way he reasoned with the Jews in verse 3, both his method and message were ideally suited to that specific audience. The consequence of this effort was twofold: there were those who believed and joined Paul, and there were those who believed not. This is how it always will be wherever the preacher of the gospel goes, hence Paul writes, ‘To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life’, 2 Cor. 2. 16.

Due to the uproar caused by the unbelieving Jews, Paul was forced to leave Thessalonica at night and travel to Berea. As usual he looked for the synagogue, for he had a deep yearning for his own nation, which he expressed in his letter to the church in Rome, ‘Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved’, Rom. 10. 1. How receptive these Bereans were, for ‘they received the word with all readiness of mind’! v. 11. However, they were not gullible: everything Paul preached they verified from the scriptures. No wonder they are deemed more noble than those in Thessalonica!

Our reading today presents to us two examples that we would benefit from imitating. As churches, we ought, like Paul, to have a definite plan as to how we evangelize within our locality rather than being ad hoc. As individuals, we should test all that we hear against the truth of the word of God.