The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in 1 Thessalonians 2:1,
"You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results."
Paul recalls for the believers in Thessalonica how productive his visit was with them. It turned out to be a fruitful effort, in spite of the things suffered by Paul in order to bring them the gospel. As he reminds them, he calls them "brothers and sisters."
The earlier translation of the NIV and many other translations simply provide "brothers" but with the 2011 edition, in order to help modern readers understand that the Greek for "brothers" here actually refers to both genders within the fellowship, this newer version renders it this way. Put simply, Paul is calling all the believers in Thessalonica his siblings. For Paul, and for the Scriptures in general, participation in the kingdom of God is a family thing.
Paul uses the term "brothers" or "brothers and sisters" fifteen times in this letter. He also calls Timothy a brother (as well as co-worker), 1 Thessalonians 3:2, and in 4:6 he admonishes the fellowship not to take advantage of a "brother or sister".
He also likens his treatment of these believers when he was with them as "a nursing mother cares for her children", 2:7. He viewed his conduct among them as a loving father, "encouraging, comforting and urging..." 2:11-12. From Paul's perspective, participation in the kingdom of God is participation in a family. In 2 Corinthians 6:13, Paul addresses the fellowship as if he were speaking to his own children and spoke of his relationship with them as like that of parents and their children, 2 Corinthians 12:14.
Jesus himself made wonderful comments in this regard, calling his followers his family, "He replied to him, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' Pointing to his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.'" Matthew 12:48-50. In Matthew 23:8 he told his disciples, "But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers."
Paul considers believers as "children of God" Romans 8:14, and points to the inheritance that is ours as God's children, 8:17. In Romans 9:26, Paul quotes Hosea 1:10 in speaking of believing Gentiles as "children of the living God." He also declares in Galatians 3:26, that through faith, all are children of God. In Galatians 4:7 he says that since believers are a children of God, they are also heirs, Galatians 4:7, "So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir."
John points to the love God has for us that he considers us his children, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" 1 John 3:1. He considers believers as God's children in the present time, not at some future date, "Dear friends, now we are children of God..." 1 John 3:2.
There is something unique about being a family member. Yes, we are members of the kingdom of God. But our membership in that kingdom is not to be viewed as that of simply a vassal, not to be viewed as that of simply a subject, and not to be viewed as that of simply a friend. While we may be all these in the kingdom of God, there is more, much more: we are family!
Family members are loved. Family members have a place at the table. Family members share in a unique intimacy that is particular to the family. Children have a special bond with their parents and parents have a special bond with their children. Siblings share in a unique relationship among themselves. As I think of my participation in God's kingdom as a family member, the more I think about it, the more excited I get!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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