THE CHILDREN YEARNED OVER

The apostle Paul, though an unmarried man, wrote as a parent to the believers at Thessalonica, exhorting them as a father comforts his own children. Also he had been gentle amongst them "as a nurse would cherish her own children". Indeed he "yearned" for them in connection with the glad tidings of God which he had imparted to them. Those saints, young in the faith, had become beloved of Paul and they must therefore have answered in a very real way to the affection bestowed upon them. All these words such as to exhort, cherish, impart, comfort and yearn are little used in the world of today, but the deep feelings which they describe should mark those who know the heart of God, our Father.

Paul looked for no benefits such as money from those for whom he spent himself, but he sought the joy - another rare word nowadays - of their bearing fruit to God. He was like the servant who, according to the law of Moses, "yearned after his hire". We are all inclined to accept the benefits of the work of the Lord Jesus and to forget to return thanks. True, where all is freely given to us we do not exactly owe a debt, but the words of a well known hymn put the matter very touchingly: -

'I gave My life for thee:

What hast thou given for Me? '

We might perhaps apply the word 'yearning' to God in connection with an answer for all His benefits. He even spoke to His people through the prophet, saying "Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money"! Instead of this He had been made to toil with their sins. Nevertheless, His mercy overshadowed this with glory saying, "I, I am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and I will not remember thy sins". This looked forward to the atoning work of Jesus. Have you submitted yet to divine grace?

J.C.Evershed