Continuing our study of 1st Thessalonians…
Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 1:2-5
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.
Thought for the Day: Paul spoke of the Gospel message not only coming to the people of Thessalonica in word (probably understood as preaching), but in three other ways:
-Power
-Holy Spirit
-With Full Conviction
These are not separate ideas, but tightly connected and building upon each other. The Gospel Message first came with power, the same word that is used in 1st Corinthians 6:14 to describe God’s ability to raise Jesus from the dead. This power is a life-giving force that can animate the lifeless and revive that which appears to be hopeless. Second, the Gospel came through the Holy Spirit — Paul desires to point to God as the source of this message, not human beings (specifically himself). And third, Paul spoke of the Gospel being offered with full conviction. This is the confidence and passion with which the three of them – Paul, Silvanus and Timothy – are able to offer the Gospel, yet when the phrase is used in other places within Paul’s writings, it is clear that this is not simply a person who is confident in his/her beliefs. What we have is someone who, through a tangible experience of love, has been given a gift of divinely inspired boldness.
Where have you seen the Gospel shared with power (the power to bring life from the grave), by means of the Holy Spirit (not of human origin), and through an unwavering conviction (that only comes from a personal and tangible experience of God’s love)?
Prayer: O Lord, it is your Gospel of love, delivered by the Spirit and immersed with life-giving power, that can change the world. Use me wherever you believe I can be helpful. Make me an instrument through which the Good News comes to life for others. Amen.
IMPORTANT
Looking Ahead To:
March 2, 2014
Single Service at 10:30am
Ordination of Rev. John Frey
