no tricks

1 Thessalonians 2:1-7

Paul is defending the methods and words he used when he was in Thessalonica, sharing the gospel. I looked back at Acts to get the context and it is clear that Paul's visit caused hardship for the believers because of the dissension that it stirred up among the Jews in that city. Silas was included as one of the writers of this letter because he was a significant part of the team (maybe even a co- or assistant leader) that visited Thessalonica.
Paul uses one cryptic word picture at the end of this paragraph: "we were like children among you." He doesn't explain what he means by this except that it is in contrast to someone who is looking for praise from people and asserts their perogatives (granted by their position). He actually changes the word picture in the next paragraph and makes the Thessalonians the children and he and his team the nurturing mother.
This passage measures up very closely to the account given in Acts. It actually provides some detail about the motives and methods that Paul used in seeking to spread the gospel to the Gentiles. His basic statement is that he did everything with a pure motive and did not employ tricks to deceive people into receiving his message.
Paul must have been very confident of God's power and the power of the gospel. He must have trusted God to work through him. I know that I have manipulated people's emotions in order to get the response that I am hoping for. This is not being pure in motive. This is not presenting the message of Christ without tricks. I need to find my joy not in the response that I get from people but in bringing glory to my King. I need to trust him to use me to bring about the results that he wants and, if there are no visible results, no affirmations, no responses, I need to trust that God is still pleased by my faithfulness, integrity and effort. I work for Him.