< 1 Thessalonians 2 >

The disciples in Thessalonica had the privilege, for a short while, of having the apostle Paul in their midst, a man who was prepared to labour for them and even to sacrifice his own life to preach to them the gospel of God that they might be saved. He was gentle towards them “even as a nursing mother is to her own children” v.71 Thessalonians 2:7XWaiting for response and “he exhorted and comforted them as a father doth his children”,v.111 Thessalonians 2:11XWaiting for response charging them that they live their lives "worthy of God, who had called them unto his kingdom and glory".v.121 Thessalonians 2:12XWaiting for response He left them suddenly because of the Jewish persecution and he was anxious to see them again but was prevented from returning because of adversaries,v.181 Thessalonians 2:18XWaiting for response the Jews who roused the citizenry against Paul and other believers. Acts 17:5Acts 17:5XWaiting for response

We have never met the apostle Paul, but we do have his inspired writings and from these writings we can learn how to walk worthy of the Lord. And if we are counted worthy we, like the disciples in Thessalonica, will be a “joy, or crown of rejoicing, in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at his coming”.

The apostle Paul reminded the disciples in Thessalonica of the persecution they had endured when he came to them preaching the gospel because the Jews, having killed the Lord Jesus v.151 Thessalonians 2:15XWaiting for response and persecuted the Jewish Christians in Judea,v.141 Thessalonians 2:14XWaiting for response did all they could to prevent Gentiles receiving salvation.v.161 Thessalonians 2:16XWaiting for response But these men and women of Thessalonica received the word of the apostle and his companions, “not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God”.v.131 Thessalonians 2:13XWaiting for response We are blessed in our day that we can read the same teaching of the apostles in the New Testament and become disciples of Christ without fear of persecution, yet so few receive these writings unequivocally as the word of God. Not many today “acknowledge the things the apostle wrote are the commandments of the Lord”,1 Corinthians 14:371 Corinthians 14:37XWaiting for response but this is what is required if we are to receive the salvation offered by God.