Daily Devotions
July 17th, 2023 by Pastor Solley1 Thess 1:7-8 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
KJV
The Apostle Paul under inspiration of the Holy Spirit holds up the church at Thessalonica as an example for other believers and other churches to follow. But what made that church the one Paul would hold up? There are a number of things that we will look at concerning that body of believers this week that makes them an example for all to follow. First, their turning to God.
(1 Thess 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;) In that city which was given to idol worship many had turned to the Lord. More than just turning to the Lord they had turned away from the idols as we see in verse nine. So many today claim to have found Jesus, have turned to Jesus and at the same time remain in the world. When salvation is real there is going to be a turning in a life. Repentance has always been and remains a part of true salvation. One cannot look like the world, talk like the world, act like the world and at the same time claim they have turned to Jesus. My Bible says there will be a turning. (2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.) The believers to whom Paul wrote stood out in that city as being different. Different from what they once were and different from those who remained in idol worship. Is there a difference in you that others can see? You cannot be an example to others unless and until they see a difference in you. How great is the turning in your life?