March 3 - 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

March 3 - 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and 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 delivers us from the wrath to come.

One of the commentaries I read regarding this passage says that the Thessalonian church was an apostolic fellowship.  It was this because not only did it accept the teaching of the apostles, but chose to follow the apostle’s example. They endured persecution and they shared the gospel with others.

This type of definition makes being an apostolic fellowship much more accessible.  We need to share the gospel … the Good News of Jesus Christ … with others and we need to be willing to face whatever comes at us because we call ourselves Christians.

The people in Thessalonica dealt with a lot of persecution, but they did so with great joy, knowing that they were following Jesus Christ and for Him, everything was worthwhile.  Because of their excitement about Jesus and because they lived what they preached and taught, word of their faith spread everyone, so much so that Paul found himself in communities ready to preach and teach, but instead hearing how the Thessalonians’ stories of lives being transformed had already reached those people.

This is witness at its very best!  The stories of our lives in transformation are what stir the hearts of others.

Oh, I want to be like those in Thessalonica!