Reflecting on Paul's Dialogue in 1 Thessalonians 2

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Right now, I'm taking a pause in my Bible study with 1 Thessalonians. I wanted to move forward but I'm stuck with the second chapter. The word contention (or conflict) is from the Greek word agoni where we get the English word agony. The New International Version (NIV) renders contention as opposition while the English Standard Version (ESV) renders it as conflict. I think I'd like to use the word agony since it's rooted in the Greek word where we get the synonyms. Now, enough of that and I'd like to share my thoughts on the matter. This is where Apostle Paul was narrating of his experience in Philippi where he met much contention or agoni in Greek.

The Apostle Paul himself was no man-pleaser. He had given commands to servants (doulos or slave) to please God above their earthly masters. He was a guy who was commissioned to preach the Gospel even if it meant suffering. He had mentioned (in part) his experience in Philippi (Acts 16) where he got jailed and won a jailer to the Lord. He had admitted that he had used fatherly gentleness and that he (by the grace of God) was free of all flattery and filthy language. He was not seeking his own glory but that God gets the glory. He was showing gentleness and thanking God for every situation he was in during his ministry.

I was thinking about how I got mad when I was teased and said, "It's God will you suffer and you fail. You wanted to stay in a Christian school? Why don't you join the Jesuit academy and have an easier time?" God wants me to suffer? God wants me to fail? It was hard to believe that was that. Yet, God had a purpose for letting Christians suffer and fail. I was thinking why did Jesus allow Peter to fail. Why was Paul allowed to suffer for doing right? It's all about the humbling effect. How often do I forget in Matthew 5:11-12 that blessing from God usually comes through suffering? Have I forgotten from the Book of Acts that the Christian life is meant to be more difficult?

Paul's life never became easy. As a persecutor, his life was easy when he led all the stonings. As a Christian, he was no longer stoning Christians but he got stoned as a Christian. I believe Paul understood all the stonings were to keep him humble. I believe God allowed Paul to be stoned also for this reason. I believe this reason is to show the radical transformation that took place. The one who persecuted Christians is now persecuted for Christ. Paul's life became way more complicated. Can you imagine how many times he had to endure riots and persecutions? Flogged? Imprisoned? Then I remember that Jesus never promised me an easy life. That's why I ended up no longer watching Trinity Broadcasting Network which I used to watch when I was still newly saved.

I think about how often I fail in the area of gentleness. I usually get mad at insults all to easily even to wish ill towards the person who did it. Yet, Jesus always commanded if someone hits you on one cheek then turn the other also. The Jews referred to a slap as an insult. Why should I lose myself over something that wasn't life-threatening? I was told that your ears have two holes - let it pass the other. I think many times me being unable to handle insults is because of my pride. I often shout foul and say that the person did me wrong. Then I'm told that two wrongs never make a right. They say it's good for me to be insulted so I can learn to apply to turn the other cheek. Yet, many times I failed in that test like when I yelled, threatened to do bodily harm, or even hit the person hard for a non-physical assault. I'm told that is it worth it to go to jail for overreacting just because somebody called me a name? 

It's also a reminder that this world is not our home. While I'm in this world - I can't expect to life life free of troubles especially when I've been called out. Jesus already warned many times that following Him has a high cost. However, rejoice that out of that high cost comes the infinite value. John F. MacArthur beautifully wrote in his book, "Hard to Believe" the following words (which was in the revised edition since the first edition was rather erroneous):
Don’t believe anyone who says it’s easy to become a Christian. Salvation for sinners cost God His own Son; it cost God’s Son His life, and it'll cost you the same thing. Salvation isn’t gained by reciting mere words. Saving faith transforms the heart, and that in turn transforms behavior. Faith's fruit is seen in actions, not intentions. There's no room for passive spectators: words without actions are empty and futile. Remember that what John saw in his vision of judgment was a Book of Life, not a book of Words or Book of Intellectual Musings. The life we live, not the words we speak, reveals whether our faith is authentic.

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