Renungan Pagi (Senin, 27 April 2026)

1 Thessalonian 2: 4   

On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

Sebaliknya, karena Allah telah menganggap kami layak untuk mempercayakan Injil kepada kami, karena itulah kami berbicara, bukan untuk menyukakan manusia, melainkan untuk menyukakan Allah yang menguji hati kita.

Be Honest. Heart – Checked by God

Brother and Sister in Christ our sermon today is taken from the letter of Paul to Thessalonian.

The letter to the Thessalonian is from Paul, Silas and Timothy.

Thessalonica was originally an ancient town named Thermai, meaning “Hot Springs.” In the Roman Empire time it became an important city because of its strategic location near the Aegean Sea. Later, it became the capital of the province of Macedonia.

On his second missionary journey while Paul was in Troas, God showed him a vision of a man from Macedonia saying, “Come over and help us.” Paul and Silas went, stopping first at Philippi, where they preached, and a church was formed. After spending a night in prison for driving an evil spirit from a girl, Paul and Silas were forced to leave Philippi. They went down the road to Thessalonica.

Based on Timothy’s report of conditions in the Thessalonian church led Paul to write the first letter shortly after he arrived in Corinth about A.D. 51. Some of the Thessalonians apparently believed that Jesus Christ was about to return momentarily and had consequently given up their jobs and had become disorderly.

Some of the them worried about what had happened to their loved ones who had died before the Lord had returned. Persecution from the Gentiles as well as the Jews still oppressed the believers who were nevertheless holding fast to the truth and eager to see Paul again. Some outside the church, however, remained hostile to Paul.

It seems that Paul had at least three purposes in mind when he wrote 1 Thessalonians.

• First, he wanted to encourage the Christians in Thessalonica who were making good progress in their new faith.
• Second, he desired to correct misinformation about himself and his fellow missionaries that some of his critics in Thessalonica were circulating.
• Third, he wrote to give additional instruction that would contribute to the Thessalonians’ spiritual growth.

Our text today as he reflect on what he has done to the Thessalonian;

1. Speaking to them as those approved by God. God allowed me to speak about Gospel. Paul spoke in the name of His authority that God has seen fit for Paul and to be entrusted with the gospel.
2. The phrase “entrusted with the Gospel” refers to the divine responsibility and privilege given to individuals or groups to proclaim and preserve the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This concept is deeply rooted in the New Testament, where the apostles and early Christians are called as stewards of the Gospel message, tasked with spreading it faithfully and accurately.

Being entrusted with the Gospel implies a stewardship that requires faithfulness, diligence, and a commitment to the truth. In 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 , Paul states, “So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” This passage highlights the expectation that those who are entrusted with the Gospel must be faithful in their proclamation and teaching.

The concept of stewardship also involves a readiness to defend the Gospel against false teachings. In Galatians 1:6-9 , Paul expresses his astonishment that the Galatians are turning to a different gospel, which is not the true Gospel. He warns that anyone preaching a gospel contrary to the one they received should be accursed. This illustrates the importance of preserving the purity of the Gospel message.

3. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

The same meaning we are not  trying to please human beings, but rather God, who judges our hearts.  Paul was trying to stress that the gospel was the precious treasure that had been entrusted to him by God. It was his responsibility to please God by his faithful proclamation of the message.

It is difficult to please both God and man. Our primary goal is to honor God, who knows our inner motivations, rather than seeking popularity or favor from humans.

When we listen to God, who may test us, we will receive God’s divine approval and may be rewarded by Him instead of receiving the reward of human praise.

Paul did not want to please people for his own gain, but wanted solely to serve God and to seek His approval and not people’s because if he aimed to please men, he would not be a true servant of Christ’s (Galatians 1:10).

We tends to fear people because we can see them and we do not want to cause conflict and disharmony. Maybe we chose our family and friends over God. However, look at Proverbs 29:25, it says, “being afraid of people can get you into trouble, but if you trust the Lord, you will be safe.” God is our safe place we can turn to when we fear people.

Let us take a moment to reflect this text for ouw own life.

Be honest before we start our activities, you may ask: Is this for God’s approval, people’s applause, or my own ego? If the audience disappeared, would I still do it? God tests motives, not just actions. Do I come to this campus as a student to please God or my own family? Proclaiming Gospel, sharing God news and every kind of God’s mission, we need God’s approval.  Before you act, ask: “Am I doing this for God, or for me?”

What can I do to please God as a Lecturer, staff or student?. Amen.

“Rev. Maruhum Simangunsong, M.Th.”