I Thessalonians 1
The book of I Thessalonians was written to encourage the believers in Thessalonica to remain steadfast in their faith in spite of the pagan society which was all around them. The First Epistle of Thessalonians is a call for Christ-centered living. I Thessalonians is a call for a radical transformation in our lives, because we belong to the Lord.
Paul saw much evidence of Christ-like living in
the hearts and lives of the believers in the Thessalonian church.
Paul said in I Thessalonians 1:2-3, "We always thank God for all
of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually 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." Paul knew that a working and fruit-bearing faith was
true faith. Paul saw this in the Thessalonian believers, and he was
thankful to God for them. Do others see Christ in our lives? Do
others thank and praise the Lord because of the evidence of faith
they see in our lives?
One characteristic that Paul mentioned in I
Thessalonians 1:3 as a characteristic of true faith is "work
produced by faith." True saving faith always results in holy
living. We still continue to struggle with sin as believers in the
Lord Jesus, but it must be our consuming passion to live lives which
are pleasing to the Lord. Our relationship with our Lord must be
primary in our life, and our relationship with the Lord must be shown
in every area of our lives. We must have a passionate desire and love
for the things of the Lord. We must have a passionate desire to bring
about the fruit of obedience to our Lord in all areas of our lives.
Yet another characteristic of true faith mentioned
in I Thessalonians 1:3 is "labor prompted by love." We must
love God and others to the point of exhaustion. This kind of love in
not necessarily a sentimental feelings type of love, but it is a love
produced by the Holy Spirit. Love sometimes involves hard work and
perseverance. I Corinthians 13 reminds us that sacrificial love does
not always come naturally. Love is patient and kind. Love is not
envious, proud, or self-seeking. Love is not rude or easily angered.
It certainly does not keep a checklist of the wrongs committed
against us by others. God's sacrificial love requires the Holy
Spirit's help and involves perseverance and hard work.
A third characteristic of true faith mentioned in
I Thessalonians 1:3 is "endurance inspired by hope in our Lord
Jesus Christ." True faith proves itself by patience and
perseverance. God's children can be patient and persevere in their
faith; because they have the certainty that they belong to their Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ, for time and for eternity. Because of this
blessed certainty they can endure and persevere even in difficult
times in their lives. God's children can remain steadfast and patient
in their faith even under pressure. This is because they rest their
lives in the Lord Jesus Christ, and know they are secure in Him.
We were chosen by the Lord to live for His glory.
The Lord has called us to changed lives, and He has called us to be
imitators of the Lord Jesus Christ. (I Thessalonians 1:6) We must
reflect the Lord and His character in both pleasant and difficult
times in our lives. I Thessalonians 1:7 tells us that Our lives must become "a model" to all
our fellow believers and also to those who do not know the Lord. May we be such good examples of perseverance in
love, joy, and peace that our faith will be evident to those all
around us. May others see the power of the Holy Spirit and
Christ-like character in our lives. May others know that our lives
have been touched and changed by our Lord and by His presence in our
lives!
