Spiritual parenting
But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children … you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:7,11-12).
It is good to read Paul’s letters with reference to the records of his missionary journeys in the Book of Acts. We are given a comprehensive view of the ministry he and his fellow workers undertook. It helps us understand the deep spiritual, emotional and physical commitment they had to the work of God, and their genuine love for Christ’s Church. This is all the more powerful when you consider the work in Thessalonica began as Paul and Silas were recovering from the brutal treatment they received at Philippi. Their boldness in the Gospel was not blunted and they did not flinch in the face of fresh conflict. Paul and Silas had been entrusted with the Gospel and they faithfully, sincerely and selflessly preached it. Even though they had the right to be supported as the servants of God, they insisted on supporting themselves.
This character of self-sacrifice is highlighted in the characteristics of the spiritual parenting he writes about. The parents’ love and influence are placed in the order you expect them to be in. We see this first in verse 7: “But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.” In their immaturity of faith these young believers at Thessalonica needed to know Christ’s gentleness and care as a bedrock for their spiritual development. It is interesting that it was from the homes of the Philippian jailer and Lydia that Paul and Silas left Philippi to travel to Thessalonica. I suspect Lydia was always marked by gentleness and care. But the jailor was instantaneously transformed into a gentle and caring man (see the end of Acts 16). Knowing the gentleness of Christ makes us gentle people. This does not mean we are weak and ineffectual, but we are empowered to support and help others.
This power was seen as Paul related how he and his friends shared and lived out the Gospel in sacrificial service and hard work to ensure they were not a burden to those they served. They were totally committed to building up the new church in Thessalonica. And as spiritual fathers they provided exhortation and comfort, and also charged their spiritual children to live for the glory of God. Spiritual fathers exhort in terms of calling their children to learn, progress, and fulfil their spiritual potential. At the same time they comfort and encourage them when they are challenged and things get tough. Exhortation and comfort work in harmony to help children grow and mature. And, as fathers, they also charge or implore their children to take responsibility to live lives worthy of the God who had called them into His kingdom and given them the hope of glory.
The example of the apostles brings home to us the cost and the joy of committing ourselves to the ministry of Christ in the Gospel, and the building up of His church. It is a cost worth paying and a joy worth knowing.
