Reading Through The New Testament. September 15 2016. 1 Thessalonians 2

This chapter, Paul continues to encourage the Thessalonians. I really like what verse 13 says in this chapter.

“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.”

Listening to the apostles teaching, they truly did take it as the word of God and not a man’s teaching. Some people who did here it, didn’t believe it. Some even claimed that what Paul spoke about was just human invention. But the teachers spoke with such certainty and power because they knew what they were teaching was from the Lord. The confidence they exuded obviously encouraged them to believe it truly was from God.

The word of God does a lot of things. It truly does work in those who believe in it. As a result of this belief in the word of God, the Christians in Thessalonica turned from their idols, and positioned themselves under the one true God. They spread that word. They were even happy when they suffered for their Lord. The change in the Thessalonians was sure evidence that what was taught to them was the true word of God. The words of human beings, with powerful speech or clever words, could not have done this. Only God has the power to transform us.

How are you allowing God to transform you today? What idols do you need to throw away to look into the face of God and be transformed?