October 9
Power Line!

1 Thessalonians 1-2:9

 

1 Paul, Silas^[a] and Timothy,

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

Grace and peace to you.

² We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. ³ 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.
⁴ For we know, brothers and sisters^[b] loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵ because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. ⁶ 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. ⁷ And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸ The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹ for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell 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—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica

2 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. ² We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. ³ For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. ⁴ On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. ⁵ You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. ⁶ We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. ⁷ Instead, we were like young children^[c] among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, ⁸ so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. ⁹ Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.
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Out in the countryside, far from towns and cities, farm families lived with only kerosene lamps for light long after their "city cousins".
Can you imagine the joy and anticipation they had when they saw those first work crews begin to erect poles and string the wire, moving daily closer to their farmstead?
There might have been some doubt and fear, but if anyone in those rural areas had seen the wonderful electric lights of town, sparkling on a dark night, they would have been sharing the wonder of it all with anyone who would listen!

That is how it is with the Gospel of Christ!
When we witness someone receiving the gift of salvation not only by their words, but by seeing the power of God move in them, we know it is real!
They will want to share the news of that great mighty power of God with everyone who will listen!
And so their ministry will begin....

Do you have this kind of ministry? Alive with the Power of God? Do people see His work bearing fruit in your life by what you do and say?
Get connected to that power source right now, if you need to!
And if you are connected, but haven't turned on the switch yet....
it's time!
Be Blessed....

Footnotes:

1. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas
2. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 2:1, 9, 14, 17; 3:7; 4:1, 10, 13; 5:1, 4, 12, 14, 25, 27.
3. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Some manuscripts were gentle