Huduma Ya Paulo Huko Thesalonike

Wapendwa, ninyi wenyewe mnajua kwamba tulipokuja kwenu haikuwa bure. Kama mjuavyo tulikuwa tumeteswa na kutukanwa huko Filipi, lakini hata hivyo, kwa msaada wa Mungu, tulikuwa na uja siri wa kuwaambia Habari Njema ya Mungu pamoja na kwamba uliku wapo upinzani mkali. Ujumbe wetu kwenu hautokani na kutokujua au nia mbaya au udanganyifu. Kinyume chake, tunahubiri kama watu tuliopata kibali cha Mungu tukakabidhiwa Habari Njema. Nia yetu si kuwapendeza wanadamu bali kumpendeza Mungu anayejua mawazo ya mioyo yetu. Mnafahamu kuwa hatukutumia maneno matamu ya kujipendekeza kwenu, wala hatukutumia hila kuficha tamaa ya kujipatia fedha, kwa maana Mungu ni shahidi yetu. Hatukutafuta kupata sifa kutoka kwa mwanadamu ye yote, kwenu au kwa mtu mwin gine.

Kama mitume wa Kristo tungaliweza kudai heshima kutoka kwenu, lakini tulikuwa wapole kwenu kama mama anayetunza watoto wake wadogo. Tuliwapenda sana, kiasi kwamba tulifurahi kushiri kiana nanyi, si Habari Njema ya Mungu tu, bali hata maisha yetu, kwa maana tuliwathamini mno. Ndugu zetu, bila shaka mnakumbuka juhudi yetu na kutaabika kwetu. Tulifanya kazi usiku na mchana kusudi tusiwe mzigo kwa mtu ye yote wakati tunawahubiria Habari Njema ya Mungu. 10 Ninyi ni mashahidi na Mungu pia ni shahidi yetu kwamba tulikuwa watakatifu, wenye haki na wasio na lawama kati yenu mlioamini. 11 Maana mnajua jinsi tulivyowatendea kama baba awa tendeavyo watoto wake: 12 tuliwatia moyo, tuliwafariji na kuwa himiza muishi maisha yampendezayo Mungu, ambaye anawaita mshiriki ufalme wake na utukufu.

13 Nasi tunamshukuru Mungu bila kukoma pia kwa sababu mlipo lipokea neno la Mungu mlilosikia kutoka kwetu, hamkulipokea kama neno la wanadamu. Bali mlilipokea kama lilivyo hasa, yaani, neno la Mungu, ambalo linafanya kazi ndani yenu ninyi mnaoamini. 14 Kwa maana ninyi ndugu zetu, mlikuwa wafuasi wa makanisa ya Mungu ndani ya Kristo Yesu yaliyoko Yudea. Mliteswa na watu wenu wenyewe kama vile makanisa hayo yalivyoteswa na Wayahudi. 15 Wao walimwua Bwana Yesu na manabii, wakatufukuza na sisi pia. Watu hao wanamchukiza Mungu na tena ni adui wa kila mtu kwa kuwa 16 wanajaribu kutuzuia tusiwahubirie watu wa mataifa mengine ujumbe ambao utawaokoa. Kwa njia hii wanazidi kujilundikia dhambi zao. Lakini hatimaye ghadhabu ya Mungu imewafikia.

Paulo Atamani Kuwaona Wathesalonike

17 Lakini ndugu zetu, tulipotenganishwa nanyi kwa muda, ingawa kutengana huko kulikuwa kwa mwili tu si kwa moyo, tulizidi kwa hamu kubwa kufanya kila jitihada tuonane uso kwa uso. 18 Maana tulitaka kuja huko, hasa mimi Paulo, nilijaribu zaidi ya mara moja, lakini shetani akatuzuia. 19 Kwa maana ni nini tumaini letu, furaha yetu au taji yetu ya utukufu mbele za Bwana Yesu Kristo atakapokuja? Si ninyi? 20 Hakika ninyi ndio utukufu wetu na furaha yetu.

For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

20 For ye are our glory and joy.