Paul had run from conflict into conflict when he came to Thessalonica. Just before coming to this city he and Silas had been in the Roman colonial city, Philippi. It was there that he was beaten, arrested, and imprisoned without trial, despite being a citizen of the Roman Empire. As you read his words to the Thessalonians, you can hear his desire to be among them and his love for them.
Make no mistake, Paul had great sorrow in his heart at the separation between him and his spiritual children. Yet he was thankful and rejoiced in them! He rejoiced in the work that God was doing in and through them.
Paul thanked God that when the Thessalonians received the Word of God, they accepted it, “not as the word of men, but what it really is, the Word of God, which is at work in you believers.” This is an extremely important point for us to chew on. At some point God’s Word was spoken to us and we believed it – it might have been the Word spoken with water in our Baptism, or it may be that we heard the Word later and believed – either way, we believed the Word. So now, as we sit with our Bibles open, what do we believe about this book in front of us? How do we receive it today? Is it God’s Word; to be accepted as the authority for our lives and the message of our salvation? Does it only contain God’s Word; and we have to figure out what is or isn’t His Word within it? Is it partly God’s Word and partly man made teaching? Is it mostly an ancient text with wisdom that can guide us for today?
I’ve heard all of those attitudes expressed.
I’ve heard all of those attitudes expressed within the church.
Paul is pretty blunt and bold to say, “The message that I proclaimed to you was not my message. It’s God’s message.” This book is God’s Word, and he still speaks through it. But with all sorts of different ideas even within the church about what this book is, no wonder we are struggling on so many levels as the people of God!
This book – this Word from God – gives us forgiveness, salvation and life through faith in Jesus the crucified and risen Son of God who is also fully human. Having received that powerful Word, we are also called by Jesus to, “Follow Me!” We are to become imitators of Jesus. But note – we receive the Word and then we imitate. Our life becomes the overflow of our faith.
Our time spent in the Word certainly helps us to know God’s will better, but that is not the heart of why we take time to pick up this book and read it. We take up this book and read it because God speaks to us here. And, no doubt about it, when God speaks things happen. Here He speaks life into our spiritual deadness. Here He speaks forgiveness to our sins. Here He speaks holiness to our wickedness. And here He speaks obedience to our rebellion. All this takes place because here God speaks to us of Jesus, His Son and our Savior. And as God speaks, we are changed.
Father in Heaven, thank you for your Word. I do not always have the right attitude when I read it, but I pray that you would help me to see it more clearly and that You would help me to encounter You through Your Spirit and Your Son whenever I pick up a Bible to read it. And I ask that You would shape me and equip me to share You with others; for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Make no mistake, Paul had great sorrow in his heart at the separation between him and his spiritual children. Yet he was thankful and rejoiced in them! He rejoiced in the work that God was doing in and through them.
Paul thanked God that when the Thessalonians received the Word of God, they accepted it, “not as the word of men, but what it really is, the Word of God, which is at work in you believers.” This is an extremely important point for us to chew on. At some point God’s Word was spoken to us and we believed it – it might have been the Word spoken with water in our Baptism, or it may be that we heard the Word later and believed – either way, we believed the Word. So now, as we sit with our Bibles open, what do we believe about this book in front of us? How do we receive it today? Is it God’s Word; to be accepted as the authority for our lives and the message of our salvation? Does it only contain God’s Word; and we have to figure out what is or isn’t His Word within it? Is it partly God’s Word and partly man made teaching? Is it mostly an ancient text with wisdom that can guide us for today?
I’ve heard all of those attitudes expressed.
I’ve heard all of those attitudes expressed within the church.
Paul is pretty blunt and bold to say, “The message that I proclaimed to you was not my message. It’s God’s message.” This book is God’s Word, and he still speaks through it. But with all sorts of different ideas even within the church about what this book is, no wonder we are struggling on so many levels as the people of God!
This book – this Word from God – gives us forgiveness, salvation and life through faith in Jesus the crucified and risen Son of God who is also fully human. Having received that powerful Word, we are also called by Jesus to, “Follow Me!” We are to become imitators of Jesus. But note – we receive the Word and then we imitate. Our life becomes the overflow of our faith.
Our time spent in the Word certainly helps us to know God’s will better, but that is not the heart of why we take time to pick up this book and read it. We take up this book and read it because God speaks to us here. And, no doubt about it, when God speaks things happen. Here He speaks life into our spiritual deadness. Here He speaks forgiveness to our sins. Here He speaks holiness to our wickedness. And here He speaks obedience to our rebellion. All this takes place because here God speaks to us of Jesus, His Son and our Savior. And as God speaks, we are changed.
Father in Heaven, thank you for your Word. I do not always have the right attitude when I read it, but I pray that you would help me to see it more clearly and that You would help me to encounter You through Your Spirit and Your Son whenever I pick up a Bible to read it. And I ask that You would shape me and equip me to share You with others; for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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