Today’s Readings: Proverbs 22-23; Psalm 117; 1 Thessalonians 1
Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord! Psalm 117:1–2, ESV
Paul opens his letter to the Thessalonians by commending their work of faith, their labor of love, and their steadfastness of hope in Jesus Christ. Is it possible that their hope always stood fast? In every circumstance? Well, Paul does not say that it was not ever challenged or that it did not ever falter, but that it never failed. That word, steadfastness, in this instance means enduring. The Thessalonians believers possessed a hope that remained despite whatever difficulties they encountered (more on that in a moment) and that convinced Paul that they had experienced a genuine work of God’s grace. “For we know, brothers, loved by God, that he has chosen you,” he says in verse four.
I wonder this morning, do you have a “know-so” kind of faith? I’m talking about the same sort of conviction that Paul had regarding the Thessalonians. Do you know that you know that you know that God has chosen you? It’s a tricky thing to ask about yourself, I understand, because we all have moments of doubt. But I believe that it’s possible to have a hope that holds on no matter what questions may come or problems are posed. It’s a supernatural thing, this kind of faith. Paul says he knew that God had chosen the Thessalonians “because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction” (verse 5). In other words, this was not them working something up, it was God working something out.
But again, how do you know? For Paul (and for all of the believers in Macedonia and Achaia) it was the demonstrable difference that the gospel had made in the lives of the Thessalonians. What had happened in Thessalonica when Paul preached there was dramatic and it was talked about throughout the region. They had “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (verse 9) and it inspired others. This was no “soft sell” gospel with a sinner’s prayer and uncertain results. It was a radical conversion with obvious change. The Thessalonians had gotten the real deal! As a result they became imitators of Paul and of Jesus Christ. There was no doubting the genuineness of their experience because they had been thoroughly transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As obvious evidence of this supernatural work of God among the Thessalonians Paul mentions this: “For you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit” (verse 6). This is a reference, probably, to the persecution they endured as a result of the gospel. This persecution did not dissuade them from following Christ. In fact, it was accompanied by joy—supernatural joy. They had joy because their hope was in Jesus to whom they had turned and they now waited on Him from heaven to deliver us from the wrath to come (verse 10). They had joy adversity because they had hope in heaven! It reminds me of Job who, despite all of his affliction, said, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:25-26).
Be encouraged, Friends. You can share the same conviction. The gospel gives us that promise. We recently read it in the book of Romans: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:9,13). Joy in the midst of adversity is the unmistakable mark of steadfast hope and steadfast hope is based on the steadfast love of the Lord. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases the Bible says (Lamentations 3:22). My hope may sometimes falter, but it will never fail if I put it in Jesus Christ because His faithfulness endures forever. Ironic, isn’t it that Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, but it is written on the most enduring truth. Praise the Lord! Great is His steadfast love toward us. He will not forsake us. He will come again and deliver us from the wrath that is coming.
You can know that for sure! Have a wonderful weekend.