When we read these opening words of Paul's letter to the Church of Jesus Christ at Thessalonica we are reading something of what they became through the hearing and receiving of the Word.
It was the Word that made them what they were.
They became a model or pattern or example for others.
They were able to turn opposition into opportunities.
Is that not a mighty spiritual challenge for believers and for leaders today? It is not what happens to us that matters all that much.
It is what we do with it.
It is the Word of God that makes a man and shapes a man and imparts strength and courage to a man and this is so important no matter in what walk of life he works and serves and lives.
When we come to verse 8 in this opening Chapter of the Thessalonian letter, we are reading of what they had been experiencing from the outset and it had been sore and painful as well as gracious and joyful.
Only in Christ Jesus can these two apparent contradictions can go alongside one another.
The news of what happened went around.
The news broke out.
The news of how they reacted spread, and travelled far and wide.
This became a heroic church.
Do we not greatly need churches that are regarded as heroic in the communities where they live and serve? We read of reference to idols in the next sentences.
In that area they were supposed to help people to worship but they became the centre of worship, and that too can happen today.
Idols can blind people and sidetrack men from coming to a true living and saving faith in and through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
These people turned from idols to serve that living and true God.
It is all so positive.
The Word changed and transformed these people.
That can take courage and confidence that Almighty God will never disappoint nor let you down, and so many can testify that God will never fail or disappoint.
We can use that phrase again of a deceased colleague who used to say regularly that God had called him and that after fifty years he could still say with great confidence and humility that he had been 'saved to serve'.
This was a most successful fellowship and that is what a successful fellowship is - men and women who are 'saved to serve'.
And they were going to go on serving until Jesus Christ returned from heaven.
We are a worshipping and waiting people who go on serving until Jesus Christ returns, or until He calls us home.
They were waiting for something to happen just as we are waiting for something to happen and they did not get exhausted or worn out.
They served and waited - what a balance.
They knew they had been saved or rescued from the wrath to come.
How often today do we hear any mention of the wrath or anger of Almighty God? Sin in man can bring this to pass and it is never a good thing to watch or experience but it is real and it is a reality, irrespective of how some men may overlook it or ignore it! They endured, and that endurance was inspired by hope in the living God.
Will your life and testimony and endurance and faithfulness, inspire and motivate others? It is a challenging question which we each need to face and answer.
Sandy Shaw
It was the Word that made them what they were.
They became a model or pattern or example for others.
They were able to turn opposition into opportunities.
Is that not a mighty spiritual challenge for believers and for leaders today? It is not what happens to us that matters all that much.
It is what we do with it.
It is the Word of God that makes a man and shapes a man and imparts strength and courage to a man and this is so important no matter in what walk of life he works and serves and lives.
When we come to verse 8 in this opening Chapter of the Thessalonian letter, we are reading of what they had been experiencing from the outset and it had been sore and painful as well as gracious and joyful.
Only in Christ Jesus can these two apparent contradictions can go alongside one another.
The news of what happened went around.
The news broke out.
The news of how they reacted spread, and travelled far and wide.
This became a heroic church.
Do we not greatly need churches that are regarded as heroic in the communities where they live and serve? We read of reference to idols in the next sentences.
In that area they were supposed to help people to worship but they became the centre of worship, and that too can happen today.
Idols can blind people and sidetrack men from coming to a true living and saving faith in and through Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
These people turned from idols to serve that living and true God.
It is all so positive.
The Word changed and transformed these people.
That can take courage and confidence that Almighty God will never disappoint nor let you down, and so many can testify that God will never fail or disappoint.
We can use that phrase again of a deceased colleague who used to say regularly that God had called him and that after fifty years he could still say with great confidence and humility that he had been 'saved to serve'.
This was a most successful fellowship and that is what a successful fellowship is - men and women who are 'saved to serve'.
And they were going to go on serving until Jesus Christ returned from heaven.
We are a worshipping and waiting people who go on serving until Jesus Christ returns, or until He calls us home.
They were waiting for something to happen just as we are waiting for something to happen and they did not get exhausted or worn out.
They served and waited - what a balance.
They knew they had been saved or rescued from the wrath to come.
How often today do we hear any mention of the wrath or anger of Almighty God? Sin in man can bring this to pass and it is never a good thing to watch or experience but it is real and it is a reality, irrespective of how some men may overlook it or ignore it! They endured, and that endurance was inspired by hope in the living God.
Will your life and testimony and endurance and faithfulness, inspire and motivate others? It is a challenging question which we each need to face and answer.
Sandy Shaw
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