1 Thessalonians 1

English Standard Version (ESV)

Greeting

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

The Thessalonians' Faith and Example

² We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, ³ remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ For we know,brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵ because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.⁶ And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷ so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. ⁸ For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. ⁹ For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

I find 1 Thessalonians to be very encouraging. These were gentiles and they turned from their idols. Paul's letter is admonishing them for diluting their faith with works or turning back to idols. He is encouraged by how well their faith is doing without him or someone else there. He is encouraged that the reports he hears about their faith. He doesn't even have to boast about their faith to others because the record has already been reported and speaks for itself. Would that I have such a faith. May I be an imitator of the Lord and of the people God has put in my life to show me how to live a good Christian life. 

Heavenly Father, I ask that you would grow my faith. May I rely on you for my glory and selfworth. I know that I have many idols in my life, some that I don't even recognize. Father take these idols from me. Reveal my sin so that I might repent. Give me a heart of repentance and submission to your will. Father I want to obey you. Give me a heart of obedience. In Jesus Name, Amen.