1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of people we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place where your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
Reflection
Here is a testimony and an example of Word and action through the power of the Holy Spirit taking place in the church. That's how it should be. As we learn and hear and understand the Word of God and as we come to have faith and believe in what God has done for all creation in the saving acts of Jesus Christ; we put our faith into action out of the love that God has shown us and given to us in the saving acts of Jesus' coming, teaching, healing, ministry, suffering, death and resurrection.
This is a letter to the Thessalonians of thanks from Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, exhorting the church to live out the Word in the flesh through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. And the Thessalonian church does this even in the midst of persecution. The church living in the joy of salvation and the love of God. The people coming to repentance and changing their ways from worship of idols to worship of the true and living God.
When we as individuals and as churches cling to the Word of God and cling to the joy of the Holy Spirit active and alive within us; we can turn from our sinfulness through the saving power of Jesus and become imitators of Jesus. We can imitate with joy and love, the love the Jesus has shown to us even as Jesus was persecuted.
Likewise we can imitate the joy of the resurrection of Jesus knowing that God has saved us from our sin and raises us to a new life through the calling and the gifts freely given to us through the Holy Spirit.
Yes, God is alive and well within us and brings great joy into our lives when we are going through the tough times and when we are in those moments of celebration and laughter. God is always with us bringing us safely home to live in love with God and with one another.
What more could we ever want?
Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JK_6osCH74
Prayer
Lord, as I come to you and meet you and as you come to me each day, teach me how to imitate the love you have shown to me and to all people that I may love you and love those you give to in grateful joy and thanksgiving... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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