01- 25- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (I Thessalonians 1:1-10)
CHRISTIANS ARE GOD’S DISPLAY COUNTER OF FAITH?
1- “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2- We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3- Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4- Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5- For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6- And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 7- So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8- 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 anything. 9- For they themselves show 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.”
The church of the Thessalonians as Paul mentioned in verse 1 and the preceding verses “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ…” was a church that follows the leading of Christ and the Holy Spirit and of Paul. Notice verse 6- “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:”
When you go to Sam’s Club, they have tables that were set up for their new products and old as well for people to come and taste or try their new and good products. It’s their way of letting their consumers try their samples. We are God’s sample and God’s display of true faith in Him. No wonder Paul said: “So that ye were ensamples to all…” not only to the new believers but to the churches and beyond. Christians should walk the talk and talk the walk. We’re like birds or airplanes- we live what we preach. You cannot fly an airplane with just one wing and it’s true with the birds. We have to live the Word of God and be an example to our unbelieving love ones, neighbors, co-workers and friends. You cannot just have faith and kept it in your heart. You have to exercise it and live with it and live for it. I understand many of us have heard this phrase which is very true in many sense; “Actions speak louder than words…” It is true with those believers during Paul’s time and must be true to you and to this present times believers. Sometimes, when you have a good testimony and you live the Word of God; people will see it and notice it and they will see the difference in you. But you have to stand according to God’s Word! (I Thessalonians 1:8) “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.”
