This semester at our large group meetings we are focusing on Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. As I told the students this week, I think it is a timely letter for us as followers of Jesus. Increasingly, our culture is less for us and more against us. Particularly on university campuses, we are seen as a hindrance in their push for tolerance and diversity. We are often stereotyped as “haters” and viewed with suspicion by many. So there is much to learn from the believers who lived in Thessalonica at a time when discrimination and persecution were rampant towards Christians. Both the Romans and the Jews considered followers of Jesus a threat.
But what we learn from Paul’s letter is the faith of the Thessalonian believers was steady in the midst of many trials and they became known throughout the region for the lives they lived (vss 7-8) , so much so that Paul calls them a model for all believers in how to live for Jesus.
So what was it about the lives of these believers that made them so outstanding and resilient in how they lived for Jesus in the face of so much resistance? First, Paul says the work, or fruit, of their lives was produced by faith. Many times we try to make things happen out of our own strength. We’re going to go out and convince people to follow Jesus with our great arguments and persuasive skills. Or we’re going to go do “great things” for God and change the world. Or, we’re going to create some exciting new project or ministry to demonstrate the love of God. Many of these things can be good, but often they are not done in faith but rather out of our own strength. In essence, we are trying to do things on God’s behalf instead of allowing Him to do things through us. The Thessalonians didn’t make this mistake. They trusted God to do the work through them.
Secondly, they labored for the love of the Lord rather than out of obligation or for their own glory. So many people do good things because they feel obligated to do them, either from guilt or a desire to earn favor with God, or for what attention it will bring them. The former leads to burnout and is not sustainable over the long haul, while the latter has no eternal value (Matthew 6:2-4)
Finally, the believers in Thessalonica didn’t put their hope in present circumstances or worldly things. Rather, their hope was in an Eternity with Jesus. Life in a fallen world has many ups and downs and, eventually, it comes to an end for each of us. The Thessalonian believers recognized this and so put their hope in something far more solid and lasting. Thus, when things were bad for them, which was often, their faith remained steady and their relationship with the Lord continued to grow.
What about you? How does your faith and life compare to that of the Thessalonian believers? If they are a model for all believers, as Paul says, then we each would benefit from studying and following their example. Today, consider how you are living out your faith in comparison to the Thessalonians. They were able to thrive even in the tough times. Will your faith enable you to do so as well?
© Jim Musser 2016
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