~
Are You Not Only a Follower But 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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