SCRIPTURE: 1 THESSALONIANS 1
INTRODUCTION:
Thessalonica was the capital city of Macedonia. It stood on the important Egnatian Way, Rome’s greatest highway. This highway along with city’s seaport made Thessalonica one of the wealthiest and most flourishing trade cities in the Roman Empire. Because of its international flavor, many pagan religions and cultural influences challenged the faith of the Christians there.
Paul started the church at Thessalonica on his second missionary journey. A large number of Gentiles were converted so that the orthodox Jews engineered to oppose Paul. That’s why Paul had to leave because his life was threatened. Later, Paul sent Timothy back to encourage the new church. This letter was Paul’s response to Timothy’s report. This first letter had several purposes. To encourage the new believers and warn them against pagan immorality. It reminded the church members to honor and follow the church leader and admonish them not to be idle since they were thinking that Christ was already coming.
BIBLE VERSES:
“We 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.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3)
“You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.” (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7)
THANKSGIVING FOR THE THESSALONIAN’S FAITH (vs. 1-10)
Paul thank God for the Thessalonian believers for their work produced by faith, for their labor prompted by love and their endurance inspired by hope. The gospel came to them with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction to endure severe sufferings. They had become model to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
REFLECTION:
- God’s power had seen in the lives of the Thessalonian believers. The Christian qualities of their faith, love and hope had revealed in their work, labor and endurance. How about you? Do you have good example that will enable the unbelievers to come to Christ?
- The Thessalonian believers remained faithful in the midst of persecution. Are you faithful to our Lord and willing to bring God’s Word to the world despite of opposition?