Encouragement: A Study in 1 ThessaloniansNäide

What does it say?

Despite severe suffering, the church at Thessalonica received God’s message joyfully and became a model for other believers.

What does it mean?

No other words can change lives like the message of Jesus Christ. The Thessalonians experienced that change when they heard the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. As they responded to God’s gift of faith, their lives began to reflect new purposes, motivations, and priorities. There was such a transformation in their lifestyle that they set an example for other believers. No longer bowing down to worthless idols, they devoted themselves to serving the true God and waiting expectantly for Christ’s return.

How should I respond?

How often do you hear, “Well, everybody else is doing it, so it must be okay”? Most Americans would think it absurd to bow down to an idol of wood or stone, but have you bowed down to the false beliefs of popular culture? How willing are you to stand alone for what you know is right? God gives His children the power to change – to show the world a faith that works, a love that labors, and a hope that endures. What attitudes or actions do you need to turn from this week so that your life can be an example to follow? Choose to live as if Christ were returning today.