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Berani Membayar Harga

Baca: 1 Tesalonika 2:1-12

"...telah dianiaya dan dihina di Filipi, namun dengan pertolongan Allah kita, kami beroleh keberanian untuk memberitakan Injil Allah kepada kamu dalam perjuangan yang berat." (1 Tesalonika 2:2)

Karena pertolongan Roh kudus pelayanan rasul Paulus berhasil dan berdampak. Banyak orang menjadi percaya dan diselamatkan. Namun Rasul Paulus berani membayar harga. Inilah harga mahal yang harus dibayar olehnya: ujian, kesukaran, penderitaan dan aniaya.

Sebelum pergi menuju ke Tesalonika, Paulus harus mengalami banyak penderitaan di Filipi: "...orang banyak bangkit menentang mereka. Lalu pembesar-pembesar kota itu menyuruh mengoyakkan pakaian dari tubuh mereka dan mendera mereka. Setelah mereka berkali-kali didera, mereka dilemparkan ke dalam penjara. Kepala penjara diperintahkan untuk menjaga mereka dengan sungguh-sungguh. Sesuai dengan perintah itu, kepala penjara memasukkan mereka ke ruang penjara yang paling tengah dan membelenggu kaki mereka dalam pasungan yang kuat." (Kisah 16:22-24).

Walaupun ditentang, didera, dipenjara dan dibelenggu, Paulus tidak putus asa, mengeluh ataupun berhenti melayani Tuhan. Justru sebaliknya ia makin giat dan rohnya tetap berkobar-kobar bagi Tuhan. "Karena pemberitaan Injil inilah aku menderita, malah dibelenggu seperti seorang penjahat, tetapi firman Allah tidak terbelenggu." (2 Timotius 2:9). Bahkan setelah keluar dari penjara di Filipi ia melanjutkan pelayanan ke Tesalonika. Rasul Paulus rela melakukan apa saja dan berani mati demi Injil, karena baginya "...hidup adalah Kristus dan mati adalah keuntungan." (Filipi 1:21). Inilah yang menjadi tujuan hidup Paulus. "Yang kukehendaki ialah mengenal Dia dan kuasa kebangkitan-Nya dan persekutuan dalam penderitaan-Nya, di mana aku menjadi serupa dengan Dia dalam kematian-Nya," (Filipi 3:10).

Mati bagi Injil itu bagaikan benih yang ditanam di ladang, pada saatnya akan bertumbuh dan menghasilkan buah, sebab jika biji atau benih tidak mati terlebih dahulu di dalam tanah, ia tidak akan bertumbuh dan berbuah (baca Yohanes 12:24). Tuhan Yesus terlebih dahulu telah memberikan teladan hidupNya: rela mengorbankan nyawaNya demi menebus umat manusia. Bagaimana dengan kita? Untuk bisa dipakai Tuhan ada harga yang harus kita bayar.

Karena itu marilah kita melayani Tuhan dengan segenap keberadaan hidup kita!

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