READ 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

If we are going to grow in times of difficulty, we must be mindful of three things:

1.  We Need To Be Grateful for the Truth: 13-14a

Paul begins by explaining how grateful he is that the Thessalonian believers ''received the word of God...'' 

In other words, they were grateful for the truth. Paul says “…ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God…”  These believers loved the ''Word of God.'' They were thankful for the truth.  And when Paul, Silas, or Timothy preached to them, they received this preaching as coming from God because it was based on the ''Word of God.'' 

We must never treat the Bible as just another book, for the Bible is different in origin, character, content, and cost.  The Bible is the Word of God. It was inspired by the Spirit of God (2 Tim. 3:16) and written by men of God who were used by the Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).  God's Word is holy, pure, and perfect (Ps. 19:7-9). 

The Bible was written at great cost, not only to the writers, but to Jesus Christ who became Man that the Word of God might be given to us.  These believers didn't simply ''hear'' the word that was preached. They took it to heart and sought to apply it to their lives. 

Paul used two different Greek words in verse 13, both translated “received.”  He uses the words “paralambano” and ''dechomai.”  The first word simply means to take something offered to you.  The second word means to welcome it.  One means ''the hearing of the ear,'' while the other means ''the hearing of the heart.'' 

The believers at Thessalonica did not only hear the Word; they took it into their inner man and made it a part of their lives.  They didn't just listen to sermons; they applied the truth to their lives. 

“For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus…”  (verse 14a).

They ''received'' the word, they ''accepted'' the word, and they “applied” the word to their lives. What an example!  They ''received'' the word with gladness and applied its truth to their lives. 

They weren't just ''hearers of the Word'' they were ''doers of the Word.''

2.  We Need to be Faithful in Spite of Trouble: 14b-16

Believers in Judea were suffering at the hands of the Jews. But the believers in Thessalonica were suffering at the hands of the Gentiles. Paul says, “…for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews” (vs. 14b).

After the stoning of Stephen, the Judean Christians suffered a period of persecution that was mainly led by Saul of Tarsus (Acts 7:54-8:4).  When the risen Christ saved Saul on the Damascus Road (9:1-19), the persecution waned somewhat.  But it was not long before the persecution flared up again under Herod. At that time also, the Jewish leaders imprisoned Peter (Acts 12:1-4). 

Thus, the Judean churches had a history of dealing with severe harassment and had persevered in suffering – an experience the Thessalonian church was imitating.  Paul encouraged the suffering Christians by assuring them that their experiences were not new or isolated.  Others had suffered before them and were even then suffering with them. 

The churches in Judea had not been exterminated by suffering; if anything, they had been purified and increased.  

One of God's purposes through trials is to teach us to sink our roots down deep.  We learn to depend on Him and rely on Him.  It may be painful, but it can be very productive. These believers were faithful despite the trouble and trials they faced.

3.  We Must Be Hopeful all the time: vss. 17-20

Not long after establishing the church in Thessalonica, Paul ran into some difficulties. 

Luke tells us about these problems in Acts 17.  People revolted against Paul's teaching, and they took some of the Christians into custody. 

The Christians in Thessalonica realized that Paul, Silas, and Timothy had to leave town to keep peace and to allow the church a measure of freedom.  So the missionaries left in the middle of the night, an event Paul described as being ''taken away'' (1 Thessalonians 2:17) from that church.

Even though he had known the Thessalonians for only a few months and had been away from them just a short while, he struggled to endure the separation from them. 

In this paragraph, the apostle focuses on how deeply he cared for the Thessalonians.

Look at the love and longing in these verses as Paul expresses His intense desire to see the Thessalonian believers once again.  “But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire. 18Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us” (vss. 17-18). 

You clearly see his heartbreak at the separation he had experienced. But beyond that, you see his hope that he would be reunited with them once again. “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ as His coming. 20For ye are our glory and joy” (vss. 19-20).

In times of trouble and testing, it is important that we take the long view of things. Paul lived in the future tense, as well as in the present.  His actions were governed by what God would do in the future. 

He knew that Jesus Christ would return and reward him for his faithful ministry; and on that day, the saints from Thessalonica would bring glory to God and joy to Paul's heart. 

As the familiar song says, ''It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.''

The renowned 19th-century English preacher C. H. Spurgeon told this story about King Cyrus, the man who conquered Babylon and freed the Jews from captivity: 

“A visitor who was admiring Cyrus' gardens said it gave him much pleasure. ''Ah,'' said Cyrus, ''but you have not so much pleasure in this garden as I have, for I have planted every tree in it myself.'' 

Spurgeon then commented, ''One reason some saints will have a greater fullness of heaven than others will be that they did more for heaven than others. By God's grace they were enabled to bring more souls there.''

Those words should cause all of us who know the Lord to do some serious thinking. How many people will be in heaven because of us? 

Our desire should be that when we reach our eternal home, some will say to us, ''I'm so thankful for you. It was your testimony, your life, your invitation to accept Christ that accounts for my being here today.'' 

The apostle Paul anticipated the joy in heaven of seeing people who were there because of his ministry. In a day when there is so much emphasis on acquiring material wealth, how refreshing it is to hear of Christians whose greatest reward is to see people accept Christ and grow in spiritual maturity. 

Are you making it a practice to share the gospel with others? If you are, you'll be rewarded with the best pay of all. 

You'll enjoy thrilling satisfaction here on earth, and you can look forward to even greater reward in heaven!

May we all grow despite the difficulties that we may experience while here on earth.  Heaven will be our eternal home!

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1.  Have you received the Word of God in your head only, or is it also in your heart? Explain.

2.  What three things in this devotion will help you to continue if you feel like giving up?

3.  What are some of the ways that the world tries to stamp out the Word of God?  What can you do to combat these attempts?

4.  Who will be in heaven because of your faithful witness?  What did Paul mean when he said, “…ye are our glory and joy” in verse 20?