Journal

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Bible Text: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

¹³ And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 

¹⁴ For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind ¹⁶ by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

¹⁷ But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, ¹⁸ because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

Reflection & Application

1 Thessalonians 2:13

• What would be the evidence of accepting the word of God “not as the word of men, but as it really is, the word of God”?  

1 Thessalonians 2:14-15

“The clearest evidence of the Thessalonians’ acceptance of the gospel as the word of God was their willingness to suffer for it.  The fact that they accepted the gospel despite the “severe suffering” (1:6) that they experienced as a result — something they presumably would not have done for a message they considered to be of merely human origin — is for Paul reliable testimony to their commitment.” [1]  

• Why does living out the word of God cause me to be destined for trials?
• What is my attitude towards sufferings and trials because of the gospel?   
• Is there evidence of suffering and trials in my life because of the gospel?

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

“The ultimate reward for Paul’s ministry was not money, prestige, or fame, but new believers whose lives had been changed by God through the preaching of the gospel.  This was why he longed to see them.” [2] 

• What can I learn about Apostle Paul’s relationship with the Thessalonians in this passage?
• To what extent can I relate to Apostle Paul’s sentiment towards the Thessalonians when it comes to people of God in my life?
• What can be said about Apostle Paul’s value system from the fact that he viewed the Thessalonians as “[his] hope, [his] joy, or crown of boasting”?
• What is my hope, joy and crown of boasting?

[1] Holmes, Michael W. “, NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: 1 and 2 Thessalonians. By Michael W. Holmes, 46-54. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, © 1998.

[2] Life Application Bible, Study Notes (Wheaton, IL:  Tyndale House Publishers, Inc; Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996) 1232.

Prayer