“…as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children…“
and charged
The word “charged” signifies to bear witness, affirm, insist, attest, invoke, implore, summon as a witness. The team solemnly affirms certain principles. They adjure the Thessalonians to move beyond where they are at to a new place in their Christian walk.
The team made serious declarations and emphatic judgments, based on the Thessalonian’s knowledge of God’s Word. The word “charged” means to insist.
“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind…” (Ephesians 4:17)
Principle:
Leaders must appeal to principles that transcend the viewpoint of the world.
Application:
Very few of us are willing to adjure others. No one likes to point out faults in others. We prefer to be “nice” to others, even if it means that they remain in a state of carnality or immaturity.
“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom…” (2 Timothy 4:1).\
Are you willing to lay it on someone if it is necessary for his or her development? We are not talking about the priggish approach of a self-righteous, self-absorbed person who lords spirituality over others. The issue is to be willing to address some areas where people need to move beyond where they are spiritually. Again, the issue here is not the leader’s opinions or biases but the principles of God’s Word.
