1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 "For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. (9) For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye 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, which delivered us from the wrath to come."
Paul commended these saints concerning their "work of faith, and labour of
love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" so that "ye were
ensamples to all that believe." I bring this back from the past two
writings because today's verses explain what those things meant to them and
what they should mean to us. Their work of faith was found in the fact
they were not timid to speak concerning their trust in the Lord. They were very
vocal about the work of Jesus in their hearts by the Holy Spirit. Their labor
of love was found in the public worship and commitment to the Lord. They had
visibly turned form serving idols to loving, living, and serving Jesus Christ
and the only True and living God. Their patience of hope was in the manner they
expressed their belief and trust in the fact that Jesus Christ was going to
take them to their eternal home, thereby delivering them from the wrath to
come.
Oftentimes, it seems the social aspect becomes the most important part of
service unto God. Congregations can become so busy that they possibly forget
the main thing is not the body of church members; rather, the focus of each
individual child of God should be that Jesus Christ is magnified in our service
and in our everyday walk. The Thessalonians were so filled with gratitude
that they told anyone and everyone about their love for Jesus Christ and what
He had done in their lives. Paul commended them because when he would arrive at
a place to preach Jesus Christ, he would find the people had already heard of
the work of the Lord that had taken place over in Thessalonica.
Have we been programmed by the world to the point that we have become too
silent concerning our love for Jesus? Oh, I know the Church sings, prays,
preaches, and loves Jesus boldly in the congregation. But have we become too
sensitive to the point that we do not want to intrude into the space of others
concerning our faith? The love of Jesus Christ for these dear saints was
so real and vital that they could not remain silent. They told anyone and
everyone about the Lord and His grace. They did this even knowing the
threat of their lives for being so vocal. Their love for Jesus over ran
anything that might have seemed as a threat. We have the same marvelous
love of Christ to share with others around us. Let it be said of us,
"For from you sounded out the word of the Lord."
Isn't The Love of Jesus Something Wonderful
by John W. Peterson
There will never be a sweeter story
Story of the Savior's love divine
Love that bro't Him from the realms of glory
Just to save a sinful soul like mine
Isn't the love of Jesus
Something wonderful
Wonderful wonderful
O isn't the love of Jesus
Something wonderful
Wonderful it is to me