How To Handle The Pressure...

This morning as I was perusing through I Thessalonians, I became aware of the many times in which the Apostle Paul commended his fledging congregation for their successful love walk.  This is all the more interesting when you understand the events of the day.  From everything that I can gather, Paul and his evangelistic team had met with a heavy barrage of persecution when they began to minister and establish a church in Thessalonica.  Due to the pressure and potential violent situation, Paul cut his stay short and left after only about three weeks.  The young church was left to fend for themselves.  After a little while, a very concerned Paul sent his right hand man Timothy back to Thessalonica to report on the situation.

The first letter to the church in Thessalonica was written in response to Timothy’s good report back to Paul concerning the church’s standing.  From what I have shared with you in some of my recent blog postings, it is quite evident that the church had taken Paul’s teachings to heart and although they were struggling with the same persecutions from their friends and neighbors that Paul had encountered, their faith was active, their love was working overtime and they had complete confidence in the Good News that was brought to them. (I Thessalonians 1:3)

The point that really got my attention was that they were going through the same difficult persecutions as Paul and his seasoned team.  The difference being though, that they were baby Christians with just a few weeks of teaching under their belts!  The power that seemed to give them the strength and the victory was their walk of love.  Even though they didn’t yet posses a deep understanding of the Word, and had barely begun to walk with the Lord, His love that had been poured out into their hearts by the infilling of the newly acquired Holy Spirit within them (See: Romans 5:5) empowered them to withstand the ferocious attacks against their faith.  This resulted in them quickly becoming “a model for all the believers in the province of Macedonia and Greece.”  (I Thessalonians 1:7)

This may seem a little funny, but as I was contemplating the power of love that Paul kept commending them for, I recalled a scene from the old Disney cartoon movie about Robin Hood.  In one of the final scenes of the movie, as the smoke begins to clear over the battle field where Robin Hood and his Merry Men and Prince John and his troops had been waging a hilarious fight, a victorious Robin and Maid Marion appear, walking hand in hand.  As the music changes from the battle overture to a rousing love song (now you have to remember that all the characters in this movie are talking animated animals…), Maid Marion’s Lady in Waiting (who happens to be a fat chicken…) comes dancing into view clucking melodiously that “Love conquers all!”

Now while this is funny it does raise a serious point here! (really!!!)  Paul, just like the motherly Lady in Waiting (or would it actually be the "Chicken in Waiting?"), also pronounced to the Thessalonians as well as to us today, that “God’s Love conquers all!”  It doesn’t always matter how educated you are, or how much experience you have, what matters is that you mold your life to operate within the depth of His love to those around you.  Especially when they are not very kind or sympathetic to your beliefs.  Love without measure will always bring you through the tough times in life with great peace and the eventual victory!

Let His love be your guide and your foundation in all you do this weekend.  Then carry it on into the rest of your life.  See what a difference it will make in your life as well as in those that you touch.  Well see you again on Monday!  Stay tuned and keep asking yourself… “What am I expecting today?”