Exemplary Faith. 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8.
Dear Ambassadors of Christ,
We saw in the previous passage how the Thessalonians received the word of God in the midst of persecution. Now we see how their faith set the pace for other believers.
Example (v. 7). The Thessalonians were in the hotbed of radical Jewish activism in Macedonia, the northern region of Greece. The Thessalonian Jews were so militant that when Paul was sent out of the city to Berea, they followed him there and agitated the crowds against him so that he had to leave Berea also (Acts 17:5-14). So the Thessalonians definitely did not believe because there was any social or economic advantage in it -quite the opposite. But because they held on to their faith in adverse circumstances, others in Macedonia and Achaia (the southern region of Greece) looked up to them.
Export (v. 8). But the news of the faith of the Thessalonians did not remain in Greece only. It spread everywhere. By this Paul most probably means everywhere where there were believers. So Paul and his companions did not need to say anything about the faith of these Christians. Their actions spoke for themselves. Faith is demonstrated in the way we live. If our faith is real, our lives will show it, so that we do not need to defend, or have anyone defend our claim. If there is no evidence of faith in the way we live, then the claim is empty and will only cause doubt in observers. What do people see when they observe us?
Your Loving Pastor Chris.