The Letters Of Paul The Apostle To The Believers At Thessalonica. Day 1, Your Faith Has Been Made Known

We are getting back into the letters of the Apostle Paul. It's believed he wrote the letters to the Thessalonians in the early 50s AD while he was in Corinth. 

According to what Luke told us in Acts, Paul and his companions weren't treated very well when they first tried to bring the gospel to Thessalonica. But some who heard the gospel from them did believe it, and now a growing and thriving church is present there. It is to these believers that Paul addresses his letters.

"Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you." (1 Thessalonians 1:1) Timothy was a companion of Paul on many of his missionary journeys. Silas accompanied him on his second missionary journey and was beaten and imprisoned along with Paul in Philippi. Having greetings sent to them by these three men who have suffered a great deal for the gospel must have provided a lot of encouragement to the church of Thessalonica.

As he so often does, Paul assures his readers they are always in his prayers and in the prayers of those working alongside him. "We always thank God for all 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." (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3) When Paul says that he and his friends remember the work of the Thessalonians "before our God" I think he means that in their prayers they remind the Lord of the good deeds the Thessalonians are doing in His name. It's not that the Lord doesn't know what these believers are doing in His name, but it's a beautiful way to pray for them. When they pray like this, their love for the Thessalonian believers grows. They find themselves encouraged by the courage of the Thessalonian believers, so that they themselves are energized to work hard for the Lord.

"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." (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5a) He says, "You are loved and chosen by God! The proof of this is that when you heard the gospel, you believed it. Your belief changed you and now you aren't who you used to be and you don't do the things you used to do. By the power of the Holy Spirit, you have turned away from your old ways of living and are living as new creatures in Christ."

"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." (1 Thessalonians 1:5b-6) Paul and his companions set an example for the Thessalonians to follow. The Thessalonians followed their example in godly living, even when (by earthly standards) it didn't seem to be in their best interests. They were met with opposition for claiming the name of Jesus Christ, but they endured. Not only did they endure suffering, but they endured it with joy in their spirits, the kind of joy only the Holy Spirit can give. Have you ever rejoiced in the Lord even during terrible times? I have, and I can assure you that power didn't come from me. It came from 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." (1 Thessalonians 1:7-8a) After following the example of Paul and his friends, the Thessalonian believers became an example to others. As a result, their great faith in the Lord has become widely known.

"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 His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead---Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath." (1 Thessalonians 1:8b-10) The changed behavior of the Thessalonians is a testimony in itself to the truth of the gospel. When people of the surrounding cities hear about how the gospel of Jesus Christ turned the Thessalonians away from pagan idolatry to the one true God, and when they hear about what holy lives these converts are now living, they can't help wanting to know more. They can't help recognizing the power it must take to change people so drastically. They say to themselves, "There must be truth in the gospel message. There must be power in the one called Christ. If not, how else can we explain what has happened to these people?"

Sometimes we can share the gospel without saying a word because our changed lives share the gospel for us. People far and wide were hearing about the transformation of those at Thessalonica who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. They want to know about this transforming faith. They are curious about the courage that enables believers to endure persecution. They want to understand a joy that transcends all earthly troubles. You and I can share the gospel not only in words but in actions, just like the Thessalonians did. I can't think of anything better that could be said of us than that which was said of the Thessalonian believers: "Your faith in God has become known everywhere."