1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 - Our Good Example

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

We should be like the Thessalonians in living as good examples of the transformative grace of God in our very willing hearts and minds.  We have the grace of God which brings us peace with Him as we know with certainty that we can never be pried loose from His sovereign almighty hand to lose what we cannot and have gained everything in Christ.  The example of these believers was evident in their unwavering faith working in action as they labored with love and hoped with the solid foundation of patience in the work the Lord (Philippians 1:6) was doing and promised to perfect in them as they bore fruit of righteousness in grace.  These fruits apply to all believers down through time since the beginning, just as we have all been chosen, elected by God as the body of believers by faith through repentance.  We then also labor in love and faith in our calling through the gospel with assurance in Hospice mighty power working in us to be examples ourselves in this fine tradition of discipleship as we are taught and teach others (2 Timothy 2:2) all things that the Lord said.  We also follow the Lord and the faithful examples of godly men and women as we hear and accept the word of God taught and preached and find overwhelming joy in hearing and understanding and putting it into the footsteps of our lives as we walk with Jesus Christ our Lord.  This willing obedience of joyful service makes us examples just as the Thessalonians who were prayed for and praised here.  We should follow those footsteps in broadcasting the word of God in the gospel of salvation from sin’s penalty to the forgiveness of sin and security of hope in Him.  Our faith in the grace of Jesus Christ is to be our witness and praise to His glory.  Our message is to turn people from the darkness of idolatry and immortality to the marvelous light (Isaiah 29:14, Acts 26:18, 1 Peter 2:9-10) of the true God who rose from the grave and ever lives (Revelation 4:9-10), the one who alone is to be worshipped because He alone delivers us from the wrath on sin to come in the final judgment at the end of time and beginning of eternity.  Our trust in God’s word, our faith in His work on the cross and out of death into life, this is our message seen in us as we speak the word of truth and hope in love.  It is also our witness of testimony to God’s certain work in the hearts of men and women who hear and turn from idols of sin to Him as they cease their works to earn God’s favor and accept His grace in their place.  We have the example of hope in waiting patiently for the Son of God to return for us just as He returned from the grave back to life as our promise of eternal life in our deliverance from eternal death in suffering for our disbelief and disobedience to His word and design as those made in His image to worship and enjoy Him forever!  This is our good example to follow as we proclaim the good news of God’s grace in Christ Jesus that others may know the only true God (John 17:3, 20:31, 1 John 5:20) and His Son Jesus the Christ.  This is true peace with God (Romans 5:1, 15:13, 2 John 1:2-3) which is found in Christ alone.