1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (NRSV)
Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
Verse 2We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly Verse 3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 4For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, Verse 5because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.
Verse 6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, Verse 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. Verse 8For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. Verse 9For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, Verse 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
Devotion
Paul begins his letter to the Thessalonians by praising their evangelistic efforts. They have been so successful at spreading the Gospel that he writes, “…in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it.”
What a glorious day when preachers and teachers are no longer needed to speak about faith because everyone will know the saving grace of Jesus Christ! What a glorious day indeed, yet one not likely to be seen until Christ returns.
In the meantime, as long as humans inhabit this earth, we desperately need to often hear the good news and proclaim the forgiveness, grace and mercy found in the cross of Jesus Christ.
Let us who have been freed by Christ continue to share the good news with each other and with those who have not yet heard it.