l Thessalonians Part one

First Thessalonians is the anthem to hardwork and inspirational posters. Paul addresses his church to keep on keeping on in the face of persecution.

1st Thes 1:12

Work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, endurance inspired by hope in Jesus Christ

Paul credits the church for using these three qualities. Thessalonica had shown their faith by working hard. They were inspired to work because they had a true compassion in their labor. They were able to endure suffering because of they believed in the end of their goal. These three qualities are what a human needs to truly enjoy their career. If you believe in your work, care about your work, and have a goal; you truly have a career worth keeping. The spreading of the Gospel produces these three attributes. True faith in God's mission prompts one to work, true love overrides the pain of long monotonous labor, and one cannot endure any goal without knowing that the end justifies the means. Jesus' promise to restore the world to his followers helped Thessalonica to be a church that could work on the goal.

"Gospel came with power, with the Holy Spirit, with conviction."

Paul talks about how his presentation of the saving power of Jesus was not just a sales pitch, but was something that the Holy Spirit had worked through. The New Testament shows a theme of the Holy Spirit intervening whenever the apostles evangelized. This goes to show that the race is not won by the fastest, smartest, most logical, but to the faithful. All in all, it's God's power that works through the heart. This is a Gospel of conviction, which means that those that cling to Christ are truly in it to the end, won over to make this a lifestyle.

"Imitation despite severe suffering"

In return of Paul's missionary services, the church of Thessalonica imitated Paul's qualities and convictions. The only problem was that this came with persecution from the enemies of Christianity. Paul is impressed that they continued this action even when the going got tough. Christians fall easily when they surround themselves with pleasure and suddenly destruction comes and they don't know how to deal with it. I met a girl who worked on an island with me. In the beginning of her career, she and God were best friends, but after the long winter of loneliness she replied, "God just doesn't work for me." Endurance and suffering acts as a litmus test to see who is in it till the end and who was just in it because it was convenient. I often wonder what keeps me from giving up and hanging the towel up. Somedays Christianity seems like the worst lifestyle in the universe. My only helpful hint to my audience is beg God to make it right when the times are getting tough. But perhaps for this reason that is why Paul is writing this letter. No church is an island; we are all connected together. We need each other to keep strong in the faith. Without our loving brothers and sisters encouraging us, we are only recieving half of God's love.
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We need each other to keep strong in the faith. Without our loving brothers and sisters encouraging us, we are only receiving half of God's love.
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