Continuing our study of 1st Thessalonians…
Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 1:6-10
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
Thought for the Day: Can you imagine living your faith in such a way that no one needed to even speak of it because everyone knew exactly who you were and what you valued? That would be impressive, and that’s what impressed Paul about the Thessalonians. Not only did they imitate the Lord, but they did so in spite of persecution. Again, Paul points to the Holy Spirit as the source of their inspiration, but he does not want to overlook the choices the people of this church made in response to the Holy Spirit. When Paul said, “…the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you…,” it’s almost as if he was describing a reverberation that could be seen — the Holy Spirit’s power vibrating within the person and then echoing back out from the person.
Too often people of faith view the outcome of their spiritual journey as the change that will occur within them, but the change that is sought is change that comes with a purpose. Clearly the people of Thessalonica had seen a dramatic change within themselves as they moved away from idols, but that did not conclude the work of faith in their lives. They were changed to become an agent of change in the world. They were very good at offering a tangible expression of what they had experienced, and word spread far beyond their own direct actions. So powerful was the witness offered by the people of this community that they had others sharing their story. That’s impressive, and that’s why Paul was impressed.
Prayer: Our hearts leap with joy, O Gracious God, at the sight of your goodness coming alive among the faithful. You have given with such abundance, and when people come to recognize the beauty of your gifts, they not only find something moving within them…they find something so powerful that it is reverberating out from them. Thank you for all those who have, in faith, allowed you to change their hearts for the purpose of your kingdom. Amen.
IMPORTANT
Looking Ahead To:
March 2, 2014
Single Service at 10:30am
Ordination of Rev. John Frey
