Our Faith and Example

Thessalonica was a very important and strategically located city.  Paul knew if Christianity was established there it was bound to spread to all Asia.  In Paul’s day Christianity in Thessalonica was crucial in its development into a world religion.  

The first letter could be divided into: (1) The Greeting – 1:1-3; (2) The Thessalonians faith and example – 1:4-3:13; (3) A life that pleases God – 4:1-12; (4)  What to expect when the Lord returns – 4:13-5:11; (5) Final instructions and greetings – 5:12-28.

Paul has great praise for the Christians in Thessalonica in 1:2-4 “We give thanks to God always for you all, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.  For we know, brethren beloved by God, that He has chosen you.”

Do you remember when you were young playing the game “Gossip”?  Someone would whisper a story to the next person and so on around the circle.  The last person would then repeat what they heard.  The story never seemed to come out the way it originally started. 

This was not true of the Christians in Thessalonica.  They had received the Word and were faithful to share it as they received it.  Thessalonians 1:7-8 “You became an example for all the Lord’s followers in Macedonia and Achaia.  And because of you, the Lord’s message has spread everywhere in those regions.”

How far would Christianity spread today if it depended on our faith and example to broadcast the Good News?   Let our prayer be that the Lord will give us opportunities and the courage to set an example by spreading the Gospel to those who have not heard the message.