boldness, testimonies, and stuff that i'm seriously excited about

So I was reading 1 Thessalonians today and these verses stood out to me (1 Thess. 2:2-12) :"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. For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 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. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed - God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing child taking care of her own children. 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. For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory."That's alot of words and if you actually let all of them sink in, i'm impressed. First off, Paul has alot of spunk to list of the purity of his testimony, but we already knew that about him, didn't we? That's exactly what caught my attention though, cuz i don't think he was wrong to do that. I wonder, if i had a testimony like that, if i'd be as bold as he was, and from reading this passage, i think i would. I mean, read the power in this sentence - "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." This is the reason for such boldness, and it is not for the legendary apostles alone, but for me (which blows my mind) and you (which should blow yours too)! So there is this inherent motivation for boldness, even before we even consider the issue of testimonies. What does Paul say he did or did not do for the sake of a clear testimony for the gospel? Keep in mind as you read each of these aspects, the Thessalonians were already believers during the time Paul's testimony was being established before them. ("You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.")- "never came with words of flattery" This is pretty straightforward. He didn't compliment them or say anything, for that matter, for the purpose of getting them to like him. He only spoke what was true and what God wanted him to say. - "nor with a pretext for greed" The Thessalonians were rich people, but he didn't cater to them to get money from them, though that money would have gone to better use than many people who utilize the generosity of others. Money was not his object, or even on his mind hardly. -"nor did we seek glory from people" For the sake of his testimony (and for other ethical reasons), he made sure his motives were pure. Usually, that concept is inverted: alot of people keep their testimonies blameless for the sake of seeking glory from people. I know i do, far more often than i care to admit. But people can tell, whether we realize it or not, especially the people of God. Don't mix up the motives with the purpose, as is our tendency.-"we were gentle among you" Paul came as a teacher to these people. He could have quite easily been blunt with them about what they were doing wrong and what they should have been doing, and we wouldn't have blamed him for it! Gentleness definitely went against his natural personality, but he chose to grow in it as he ministered to people. -"we shared with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own selves"There tends to be an imbalance in this area. We either are all preach without any sacrificial love, or we offer a certain degree of sacrificial love, but without offering people what they desperately need to hear. Paul did both. What is it that you tend to withhold from people? your time? your undivided attention? your prayer? words of encouragement? Oftentimes, i find those far harder to give away than my money or any physical possession i have. Offer people whatever you can, but never without offering them the truth of God as well.-"we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you" Again, the Thessalonians were RICH. In our eyes, Paul had every right to live off their wealth while he ministered to them. But at the risk of causing any bitterness or resentment or just appearing to be a lazy bum, he took care of his own needs, while ministering to theirs.Because of these things, Paul could call his testimony blameless, righteous, and holy. Not only that, but he had acquired the authority to charge them to walk in a manner worthy of God! To be able to do that, without any pinge of guilt about his behavior or motives, is an absolutely incredible feat. But it's not one that Paul did. Paul wasn't perfect. Paul was enabled (and dependent) through the Holy Spirit and his close relationship with Christ. The purpose of this passage isn't to tell you to stop screwing up and act perfectly. The purpose of it, as i see it, is to show me what i can accomplish through Christ, when i value what He values, and to cheer me on to that end. We live in age which catchphrase is "only God can judge", which is license to charge recklessly through life, scoffing at those who have an undesirable, and perhaps wrong, opinion of you. But the fact of the matter is, you have been entrusted to deliver a message so precious that God Himself died for it, to the church and to the lost alike. That duty is not a small one. But it is a glorious position, meant to be carried out joyfully and reverently, with Christ carrying you every step of the way! What more cause for boldness do we need?