Gospel work is motivated by conviction of truth and a desire to honor God.

There have always been those who teach and preach false doctrine or use the preaching of the gospel for selfish gain. There have also been those who, though they proclaimed the true gospel, did not lead the church to faithfully live according to the righteousness of God. Paul reminds the church that his ministry among them was faithful to the gospel and unapologetically led them to live righteously before God. His testimony is not one that is unique to him, church leaders, or those with special giftedness in the church. This testimony is one that every faithful Christian should have.

This passage teaches two testimonies that a life governed by the conviction of truth and a desire to please God will bear.

Faithful gospel ministry must be God-directed, God-honoring, and God-pleasing.

In these verses, Paul reminds the Thessalonian church of the circumstances that brought him, Silas, and Timothy to them and how they conducted themselves in the community and among the church. Paul recounts these things not to brag but to testify and remind the Thessalonians that gospel ministry is not about the preacher, the church member, or the church as a whole. The gospel ministry is about God and bringing greater glory to His name. How do you ensure that the work of the church and your personal service to God is God-directed, God-honoring, and God-pleasing? This passage teaches three characteristics of a ministry that is God-directed, God-honoring, and God-pleasing.

The evidence of true salvation is more than words; it is evidenced by a life transformed by God, a rejection of sin, and obedience to God.

One of the struggles for the church in a post-Christian culture is rediscovering what it means to be saved. In a Christian culture, salvation was often assumed rather than evidenced. Now that we live in a post-Christian culture, many are no longer compelled to obey the most fundamental commands of God, like gathering with the saints on the Lord’s Day, but still claim to be saved. Today, the church must rediscover a biblical understanding of the evidence of conversion.

The gospel of Matthew (2:20-23) tells us that God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream to tell him that the child that Mary was carrying was conceived by the Holy Spirit. The angel also instructed Joseph that the son Mary would bear would be named Jesus because "he will save his people from their sins." The name Jesus is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Joshua, which means the Lord saves.

The New Testament celebrates the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophetic promise. One of the earliest books in the New Testament is 1 Thessalonians. In chapter 5, Paul gives instructions for how Christians are to live in the context of a wicked and broken world. Specifically, Christians are to live in a posture of expectation of the imminent return of Jesus.

The connection between Isaiah 9:7 and 1 Thessalonians 5 is one of timing and perspective. Isaiah is looking forward to the day that the Messiah will come. Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, is rejoicing that Jesus the Messiah has come and is looking forward to when he will return. Isaiah looks forward to the Messiah coming to establish his kingdom. Paul is rejoicing that the kingdom of God has come and is looking forward to the day when the fullness of it is known.

From these two passages, we are encouraged to have a perspective of hope in the promise of salvation that enables us to persevere in the present.

There are two basic principles to any trap or snare - appear safe and inviting then once the prey is totally committed the trap springs

When a trap is deployed anything that might make it seem dangerous and threatening is hidden or covered. With animal traps, the mechanism of the trap might be covered with leaves or straw.

The most important part of making the trap inviting is putting out bait that will be hard to resist. A good trapper knows what best attracts the animals he desires to ensnare. The bait is positioned so as to be seen or smelled and appears free for the taking but the only way for the animal to get to the bait is to enter the trap. The bait is presented as though it is free. It looks as though it is left unattended. The allusion is that the bait, that is so desired, can be had without any cost or consequence.

Once the prey is totally committed the trap springs. This is where the second principle of any trap comes into play. An effective trap only springs once the animal is completely committed. The bait is placed deep in the trap so once the trap springs there is no opportunity for the animal to escape. With any trap – when the danger has been recognized the opportunity for escape is no more.

There is one more principle about traps that is important to understand. An animal may willingly enter a trap in hopes to consume the bait but once trapped it loses any autonomy and is at the mercy of the trapper. All traps lead to the loss of freedom and most traps lead to the loss of life.