1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Paul, Silas and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace to you.
We always think of you and continually mention you in our prayers.
We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
For we know brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.
You know how we lived among you for your sake.
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia–your faith in God has become known everywhere.
Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for the Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead–Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Could Paul write this same letter to you today? Would he, Could he write this to the church you attend today?
Does your faith compel you to produce fruit to advance God’s Kingdom? Is the love you have for your neighbors and surrounding community evident to those around you?
Can people see the power of Christ in you?
Are you enduring the struggles you face because of the hope you have in Jesus Christ and his redemptive work he accomplished on the cross on your behalf?
When people observe you, do they see Christ in you? Can you say, “Follow me as I follow Christ? Can new believers look to you as a role model?
When your name is mentioned do people immediately think of your love for Christ and the works you’ve accomplished that Christ prepared in advance for you to do? ( Ephesians 2:10)
If you were on trial, accused of being an imitator of Christ, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Or would you be charged with being an imposter?
How we answer these questions is even more important than the questions themselves. We need to be answering these questions every day to calibrate our walk.
If a ship is off 1 degree it might not sound like a big deal, but over the course of 1000 miles it becomes a very big deal. It determines whether or not you arrive at your intended destination, or you are lost at sea.
This is why Jesus used the word daily when he advised us to take up our cross daily. We need to crucify our flesh daily because our flesh is trying to crucify our spirit daily.
Walk It Don’t Talk It:
Starting in verse 5, we see first hand what a functioning model of the Great Commission looks like.
Paul was a disciple himself and he in turn made disciples of Silas and Timothy. He then taught them how to be disciples who make disciples: verse 5
You know how we lived among you for your sake– living as disciples. Walking out their faith in front of others with purpose.
Verse 6: You became imitators of us and of the Lord–
Disciple who makes disciples.
Vers 7: Paul states this of the Thessalonians: verse 7: And so you became a model to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere.
(Think Acts 1:8 you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.)
So we could read this as in Thessalonica, Macedonia, and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere.
Let’s dig a little:
We are first introduced to Thessalonica in Acts Chapter 17:1-9
Paul and Silas arrive in Thessalonica and go to the Jewish synagogue for 3 consecutive weeks. There was a purpose for this plan.
These people were already familiar with God. He had drawn them but they did not fully comprehend or understand truth.
So God sends Paul, Silas and Timothy to them to remove the scales from their eyes and reveal the truth of the Gospel. For Three weeks they are the guest speakers at the synagogue.
They are bold in their preaching regardless of the dangers to themselves because they trust God to protect them.
Paul used the scriptures to reason with them. God’s word does not return void. God’s word is how he speaks to us. God’s word is the tool the Holy Spirit uses to guide us into all understanding.
These 9 verses are just a snapshot of the work in its beginnings. The depth of the work is later revealed in the two letters Paul wrote to the Thessalonians
The Thessalonian believers have changed so drastically, it’s being noticed in the surrounding cities.
They themselves have become disciples and it’s evident not just in their talk but in their walk also.
Lives are being impacted. Seeds are being planted fruit is being harvested.
In Chapter 2 Paul reminds them, they will be persecuted, by recapping the treatment they received for not only beliving in Jesus but for sharing this belief with others
Paul does not sugarcoat the opposition He faced along with Timothy and Silas, but reminds them, even in the persecution, God was with them so they can count on Him being with them also.
Paul lets them know, pleasing God is more important than pleasing man. This is step by step discipleship training, boot camp for believers
The praise they should seek is from God alone. This is the only lasting reward. The applause of man is fading.
Paul reminds them of his love for them.
What other reason is there to risk death to share the Gospel message. Love must compel us. Afterall we are sharing God’s message of love so we better be doing it in love.
This is where we so often drop the ball. We attack, we call names, we are known more for what we stand against than who we stand for. Jesus called us to be fishers of men we want to be cleaners of fish.
I have to examine myself every day. My spirit must always be on guard because my flesh is always looking for a win.
I pray David’s prayer from Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me into the way of everlasting. (NIV)
I have to do this because it is a battle my spirit cannot lose. Others are watching me, they’re watching you. Do they see Christ? Do they see joy? Do they see peace over our lives? Do they see forgiveness? Do they see and hear worship from you. Do they see us loving each other? Do they feel us loving them?
If it was up to you to change your community for Christ like the 12 Disciples changed the whole world, would Christianity thrive or Die in your community?
Pray over these questions until God answers. Pray for wisdom and revelation that you may know the Lord better. Pray for transformed hearts, renewed minds, and love for everyone. A hunger for God’s Word. Stop settling for average, mediocor or lukewarm in your faith walk.
Receive Paul’s message with the same enthusiasm the Thessalonians did. Run the race like they did. Fight the good fight like they did. Let your light shine. Be the ember igniting raging fires in hearts soulded out to Jesus.
Surrender. Die to yourself. Live as Christ. Rinse and Repeat.
