Thankfulness. 1 Thessalonians 2:13-14.
Dear People of whom the World Is not Worthy,
In the previous passage, we saw how Paul and his companions urged and encouraged the Thessalonians to “walk in a manner worthy of God.” Now we see how the Thessalonians responded.
Reception (v. 13). Paul is thankful to God because his efforts and those of his companions achieved the desired results. The Thessalonians had the right
Perception (v. 13a).They recognized the fact that the evangelists were just messengers and that the word they proclaimed was not “the word of men” but “the word of God.” Sometimes the message is so wrapped around the messenger that we forget the content and focus on the messenger. Paul proclaimed not himself but Christ, and the Thessalonians got him right. Beware if your focus is a man, no matter how much a man of God he is.
Performance (v. 13b). The word that the Thessalonians received is at work in their lives. It is through the word that the Holy Spirit transforms believers into Christlikeness. When the transformation is not happening, we must question the genuineness of our faith and whether we are really in the word.
Relation (v. 14).The Thessalonians have an interesting kinship with the churches of Judea where the gospel was first preached. In this, Paul is referring to the kinship of persecution as a privilege! Just as the churches in the cradle of the gospel were persecuted by their fellow Jews, so the Thessalonians suffered persecution from their fellow countrymen. It is a kinship of suffering but one that they should rejoice in because their “reward is great in heaven” (Luke 6:23). Persecution should not discourage us because it is an indication that we are in kinship with others who are of like mind in the Lord.
Have you considered who you are in kinship with? Birds of a feather flock together.
Your Loving Pastor Chris.