June 6, 2024

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 (HCSB)
Reception and Opposition to the Message
13 This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the message about God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the message of God, which also works effectively in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, since you have also suffered the same things from people of your own country, just as they did from the Jews 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us; they displease God and are hostile to everyone, 16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are always completing the number of their sins, and wrath has overtaken them at last.

Kimberly Ivey
In Isaiah 55:11, the LORD says that His Word will not return void, or empty. Paul acknowledges this in verse 13 when he says the word of God “works effectively in you who believe.” His word works in us. Effectively! Isn’t that amazing? He works through us! Hold on to that knowledge! Because, as the church expands, as it fights against an immoral and sinful culture, we will face persecution. The church has always faced persecution -life threatening persecution. But you know what? We’re still here. Why? How? Because God is real. The Lord Jesus Christ is real. The Good News of salvation is real! And He is using us to spread His word and expand His church.