1
THESSALONIANS 1:6-10 (KJV)
LIKE
FATHER, LIKE SON
(LIKE
MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER)
1 Thessalonians 1:6 And
ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much
affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.
Some
translations say “imitators of us.” Since Paul was an excellent example of
imitating Jesus, by imitating him, these believers were also imitating the Lord
Jesus. Phillips, Craig, and Dean have a great song about a dad desiring to be
like Jesus because his son wants to be like him. Here is a link to a U-tube
version with lyrics.
This idea
is also true for our spiritual children. Paul had led many of the Thessalonians
to Christ, so they imitated Paul as an example of what is meant to follow
Jesus. Children most often do what they see in you rather than what you
tell them. This is true of those younger in their walk with the Lord as well.
They imitate what they see in more seasoned believers.
Even
though the Thessalonians were in the middle of trials and persecution, they
were able to have joy in the Lord. The joy received from the Holy Spirit does
not have anything to do with their circumstances. This joy comes from complete
trust in and reliance on God. Their joy in receiving
the Gospel, even though it did not alter their immediate difficulties, was
another evidence of their true salvation, the Holy Spirit indwelling them.
1 Thessalonians 1:7 So
that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
The word
“ensamples” is not in common usage today in 2017, so we looked it up for you:
Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English
Language
Ensample
ENSAM'PLE, noun [ Latin exemplum.] An example; a
pattern or model for imitation.
Being ensamples to the flock. 1 Peter 5:3.
Thessalonica
was a key city in Macedonia, possibly with a population of more than 200,000 in
Paul’s day. Macedonia was the northern part of Greece and Achaia was the
southern half.
MacArthur Study Bible
1:7 examples. The Gr. word was used to describe a
seal that marked wax or a stamp that minted coins. Paul commended the
Thessalonians for being model believers leaving their mark on others.
Paul
commended the Thessalonian believers for their exemplary behavior. Christians
throughout the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia were now paying attention to
Thessalonians to see what true believers’ character looked like.
1 Thessalonians 1:8 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.
Paul did
not just make a difference in the lives of the Thessalonians in one specific
instance, but he continued to be a difference among them as they were now in
the familyship of God with him. The Lord he shared with them, through His Holy
Spirit, continued being a difference in and through them that was undeniably observable
to others. Paul heard good things about the
complete change in them due to the Gospel message and their trust in Jesus
everywhere he went. He even said that there was no need for him to speak
because the Thessalonians had already been such a testimony to the power of the
Lord.
1 Thessalonians 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;
1
Thessalonians 1:9 (VOICE) You see, they go on and on telling us the story of
how you welcomed us when we were introduced to you; how you turned toward God
and realigned your life to serve the one true living God—leaving your idols to
crumble in the dust
Believers
in other cities repetitively waxed eloquently about the transformation they had
seen in the Thessalonian believers because of Paul’s witness and the change the
Holy Spirit had wrought in their lives. They left their idols, their false
gods, to follow the One true and living God who demonstrated His love for them
on the cross.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 And
to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus,
which delivered us from the wrath to come.
The
believers in Thessalonica now have an expectation, a certainty, that Jesus, their
Messiah will return again to receive them. They will be with Him forever and
ever. They will not taste the wrath of God in the Day of the Lord
because Jesus suffered in their place on the cross, paying the debt they owed, was raised
from the dead and is now seated at the right-hand of the throne of God interceding on their behalf.
Ephesians
1:20 (NASB) which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead
and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
Romans
8:34 (NASB) who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes,
rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for
us.
QUESTIONS:
1.
Who are you imitating?
2.
Who might be imitating you?
3.
Are you living in a way
that should be imitated by a new believer?
4.
Does your changed life
speak volumes about the Lord’s power in your life?
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