English Standard Version (ESV)
2 For
you yourselves know, brothers,[a] that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But
though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you
know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the
midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from
error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we
have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to
please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we
never came with words of flattery,[b] as you know, nor with a pretext for
greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people,
whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles
of Christ. 7 But we were gentle[c] among you, like a nursing mother taking
care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous
of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our
own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
As I read this I
had to think about why I do what I do.
Why do I write this blog? Is it
to bring glory to me or is it to bring glory to God. I often times look at the stats on my blog
and it is not because of the number of readers that read my blog that thrills
me. In fact, I wish more would read it
because I would know more were seeking God in their lives. I am always thrilled because I know that
people, not only in the United States are reading this but also abroad. I do not know what lives are being touched or
changed. I don’t know what words are transforming
but I know that my God uses His Words to prick our hearts and I am sure, even
if nothing that I write changes anyone, the Words that I share from the Word of
God should.
Paul was
persecuted, his life threatened daily, yet he continued to preach the
Gospel. How many of us would try to do
so more discretely or maybe not at all?
Yet Paul was bold in his proclamation of Jesus Christ. He certainly did not do it to get approval
from man but that the Gospel could be spread.
My prayer today
for this and every blog that I have written is that the Word of God, through
this blog, will bring glory to God and not to me. Yes, I want everyone to read it, I want a
large group of people seeking God in their lives. No, I am not looking to be famous or to have
large numbers of followers. I want God
to have a large number of followers who find strength in His Word. If by the Words that I write, like the Words
that Paul wrote, I am persecuted, may it bring glory and praise to our Father
above.
May God bless
you and keep you as you seek to know Him more.
Seeking Him with
all my heart,
Sheila
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