Lot's of ground to cover today. Paul began this letter of 1 Thessalonians by introducing three men well known to the Thessalonian church. Paul was the head of this missionary team and key writer of this letter. Silas was a prophet (Acts 15:32) who was held in high esteem by the Jerusalem church. Silas accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:36–17:15) and helped him establish the church in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9).The young Christian named Timothy joined Paul and Silas during Paul’s second missionary journey. The account in the book of Acts describes the preaching of Paul and Silas in Thessalonica (Acts 17:4).
Paul commended these young Christians for their faithful work, loving deeds, and continual anticipation of Christ’s return. Their work had been produced by faith. The believers were willing to give of themselves (even if it meant hardship) in service to others. Only God’s kind of love could prompt such willing labor. Their anticipation of the Lord’s return helped them to be strong in the face of opposition and difficulty because they know that God sees all and one day will make everything right.
The message of salvation, though welcomed with great joy, brought the Thessalonian believers severe suffering because it led to persecution from both Jews and Gentiles. The Thessalonians had followed the example of the apostles and of the Lord himself, and they, in turn, had become an example to all the Christians in Greece. Paul praised this church (no other church received this particular type of praise) because not only were they model believers to an unbelieving world, but they were also examples to other believers.
Paul and Silas had arrived in a city with no believers. They left a strong church that was alive, growing, standing up to persecution, and becoming an example to believers across the world. Lives had been changed. The Thessalonians knew that Paul and Silas had indeed been treated badly in Philippi, for they ended up in prison. Despite severe suffering for sharing the Good News of Christ, Paul explained that God had given him courage to go on to Thessalonica and declare God’s Good News. Only such supernatural courage could help the men boldly face persecution because the threat of opposition had not been left behind in Philippi.
Once again we see that some accusers had attacked Paul and Silas’s methods and message (Paul refuted the accusations in the previous verses). 2 Timothy 3:12 tells us that anytime one seeks to make a stand for Christ, opposition will come.Therefore, Christians must be vigilant and faithful to Christ in ready anticipation of the accusers attack.
Chapter three begins on that note. Paul had never taught that Christ would make life easy; instead, he had constantly faced persecution for his faith, and he explained that any believer would do likewise. The Thessalonians could attest to this fact—for Paul and Silas had warned them that troubles would soon come. They saw it firsthand as the apostles had been run out of town for preaching the Good News (Acts 17:5-10).
Because persecution had occurred against the apostles—Paul sent Timothy to find out whether their faith was still strong and if they were persevering in the face of difficulty. The words I was afraid focus not so much on fear as on concern that the Tempter (Satan) had gotten the best of them. Paul was concerned that the new and struggling believers might turn away from their faith.
Paul’s certain relief and joy at the good news from Thessalonica was matched by great comfort that they had remained strong in the faith. Paul and Silas had continued to experience crushing troubles and suffering, but this report from Timothy encouraged and inspired them with new life—renewed energy.
The believers had been taught from Paul and his companions to live in a way that pleases God. The apostles had set an example for them of how Christ-like living looks. Evidently, they had learned, for Paul said that they were doing just that; but he wanted them to do so more and more. Living to please God is every Christian’s priority. Knowing Jesus as Savior brings salvation and should prompt every believer to please God. Through obedient believers, God works in the world. Obedience pleases God. Believers cannot claim to know and love God if they do not seek to please him.
God wants you to be holy, just as He is Holy. This refers to the process called “sanctification.” This process continues throughout every believer’s lifetime on earth. God takes the old patterns and behaviors and transforms them to his standards and will. Those who are being sanctified have accepted Christ as Savior and are allowing the Holy Spirit to work in their lives, making them more and more like Christ, which is God's will for man.
Finally, as this portion of scripture closes, we see that God laid down one rule when it comes to sex—sex is for married people (a man and a woman) only. Anyone who refuses to live by this simple rule, who treats sexual sin lightly, is not disobeying human rules because human rules change (witness the change in “sexual rules” in the American culture over the last 50 years). To go with the flow of the surrounding culture and to disregard God’s rules about sexuality are tantamount to rejecting God.
Paul would later write to the believers in Corinth (another sexually immoral city, and incidentally, the city where Paul was at the time he wrote the letter to the Thessalonians): “Run away from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body” (1 Corinthians 6:8).
Sexual sin is a violation of one’s own body. Paul described it as a sin that affects the body like no other, a sin that is against one’s own body, affecting not just the flesh (promiscuous sex can lead to disease), but to the whole being and personality. Sexual sin has disastrous effects. What an enticement it can be for all people, and believers are not exempt. Clearly, other sins also affect the body, such as gluttony or drunkenness, but no other sin has the same effect on the memory, personality, or soul of a person as sexual sin.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
Lord, make me more like Christ today. In the words I use and in the attitude I portray. Lord, build a church here at COV, like the one in Thessalonica. A place where people are coming to Christ and growing in Christ. A place where people seek out discipleship and avenues to grow. Build COV into a place where our number one concern is seeing people come to know Christ.
Lord, mature our people. Give them a heart to obey Your word, Your commands and Your decrees. Lord, lay it on our people heart to bring a friend to church this Sunday. Give them boldness and courage.
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise."
Proverbs 11:30 (NIV)
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