1 Thessalonians 2:14-16

1 Thessalonians 2:14-16

For you all became imitators, brothers and sisters, of the assemblies of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea because you all also suffered the same things by your own countrymen just as they also suffered by the Jews – who also killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, who drove us out, who did not please God and all opposed to mankind, who prevented us from speaking into the Gentiles in order that they should be saved – in order to always fill up their sins.  But in the end wrath came upon them!

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Yesterday we spoke about how the Word of God changes lives.  One of the ways that this happens is by being able to match up what we are hearing with the example of how it is changing the lives of others.  In other words, when we have the opportunity to hear information from God’s Word and then imitate the example in others we are best able to put it to work in our life.  This is exactly what Paul says the Thessalonians did well.  They heard and they imitated.  This is how the Word of God was alive and active within the ones who believe.

Do you follow this pattern in your life?  How do you see this at work in you?

Second Thought:

Once more in Paul’s writing we hear about persecution.  Once more we hear about suffering going hand-in-hand with the pursuit of a faith in Jesus Christ.  It is natural for this to happen.  The world persecuted Jesus.  The world persecuted His disciples after Him.  The world persecuted the prophets who came before Him.  If the world persecutes all those who came before and after Jesus, why would we think to escape it?

Where have you had persecution?  How have you dealt with it?  In what way has your dealing with persecution allowed you to imitate other people of faith?

Third Thought:

The last few words of this section are ominous.  Wrath has come upon them.  This is the unfortunate consequence of opposing God and God’s people.  God may allow the people of this world to win in the short term as they exert their free will.  But God will always have the last say.

Why is this an important perspective to remember? Why is this a perspective of both triumph and sorrow?

Passage for Tomorrow: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20