1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

It is worth noting, and repeating in our lives, the practice of Paul. Paul was a man who was profoundly and consistently thankful. Paul is thankful that the Thessalonians receive “the word of God's message” as the word of God, not just the word of men. We are often thankful, and should be, for a great many things, but are we always thankful that people accept the gospel message, with all that this implies? The word ‘accepted’ in verse 13 implies a certain intensity and intimacy. The word means that its impact was not on the perimeter of life but at the core of their being. The result of this kind of ‘accepting’ is that the word “also performs its work in you.” When people take seriously the gospel and take it to the core of their being, it has a profound impact; it changes lives. If our lives are not changed by our church’s preaching, teaching, or message, it leads us to two possibilities. The first possibility is that we are not taking the message seriously and taking it to heart; the other possibility is that the message offered is not the word of God's message but some self-centered false gospel.

The result of this life-changing message is hardship. If someone says, “Believing the gospel results in peace, affluence, and ease,” they ought to consider verse 14. When the message is “Jesus is Lord, and therefore no one else is” (not Caesar, not money, not you, nor any idol), people will get upset and try to silence that message. Jews and Gentiles, modern and ancient, people who reject the Gospel and are enemies of God and of men. All who oppose the message are in fact enemies of humanity.

It is pretty easy to look at this passage and think of Muslim, Hindu, or political persecution of Christians. But we need not look so far away. Church leadership that resists the growth of the Gospel and would rather control churches fit this category. All leaders who kowtow to pressure that prevents Kingdom impact are also enemies of God and man. They need not wait for Judgment Day and their ruin; God's wrath is already coming upon them.

“Lord, help me always be passionate about the expansion of the Kingdom. AMEN”