~ Are You Not Only a Follower But Also an Example and Imitator? ~
Individuals
Followers of Us
and the Lord ~ “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention
of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of
love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and
Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only,
but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know
what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you
became followers of us and of the
Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy
Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-6).
The Gospel
Believed ~ “And you became
followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction,
with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you
became examples to all in Macedonia
and Achaia who believe. For from you
the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but
also in every place. Your faith toward
God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what
manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve
the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised
from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1
Thessalonians 1:6-10).
Churches
Followers of
Churches of God ~ “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with
the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our
hearts. For neither at any time did we
use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness — God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from
you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, just as a
nursing mother cherishes her own children.
So, affectionately longing for you, we
were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own
lives, because you had become dear to us.
For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and
day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly
and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you
know how we exhorted, and comforted, and
charged every one of you, as a
father does his own children, that you
would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1
Thessalonians 2:4-12).
The Word Received ~ “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because
when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not
as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also
effectively works in you who believe.
For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God
which are in Judea in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians
2:13-14a).
~
Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
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