“They
tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” I
Thessalonians 1:9 NIV
The last of Paul’s seven churches
was from Thessalonica. He didn’t get to stay there very long for a crowd was
stirred up and he was driven from the city. How much could Paul teach the
people of the church in three short weeks? The two books of Thessalonians show
us that he could teach them an awful lot. In fact, Paul repeatedly refers to
his brief stay there and the things he taught them as the basis for his letter.
Lots of people get really excited
about the doctrine of last things – eschatology. Paul taught them a lot about
that. There is a great deal of difference between the worship of idols and the
worship of God. Paul taught them a lot about that. He taught them a lot about
the doctrines of suffering, purity, prayer and diligence. This might just make
three weeks of modern church services seem kind of puny. Paul said to them, “I
would not have you to be ignorant, brethren” and he really meant it. Let us
with the Thessalonians strive to know Christ better every day.
Dear
Father, You have given us Your word to instruct us and Your Spirit to teach us.
Help us to be committed to knowing Your word and obeying it more each day.
Amen.
The
Friday Benediction
Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop
you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in
the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be
enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend. Amen
You
can find Abundant Grace daily devotions M-F on my website: www.davidccraig.net You
can also find quality Christian books there as well.
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