1 Thessalonians 1 (4)

Pray Psalm 79.8, 9.
Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us!
Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us,
For we have been brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation,
For the glory of Your name;
And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins,
For Your name’s sake!

Read 1 Thessalonians 1.6, 7.

Reflect.
1. In what sense did the Thessalonians follow Paul and the Lord?

2. Are affliction and joy mutually exclusive?

Meditate.
The pattern the Thessalonian believers were now called to adopt was clear. They saw it in the lives of Paul and those who were with him. It was a pattern of faith, love, and hope – even in the midst of trials and affliction – that exuded joy in every circumstance. This is what it means to be called to the Kingdom and glory of God (1 Thess. 2.12).

All believers need examples they can follow. Paul often set himself forward as an example of one who was following the Lord Jesus and, for that reason, one others should follow as well (v. 6; cf. 1 Cor. 11.1). All believers are followers of Jesus, and all believers are, to some extent, leaders as well. We need to make sure that we can say, like Paul, that those who want to follow Jesus will be helped on their way by following and imitating us.

It might seem strange to see the words joy and affliction paired in the same context. Aren’t these either/or states? Not for Christians. We know that our lives of following Jesus can entail various afflictions, but no affliction can deprive us of the joy of knowing the Lord. We may be suffering and in pain, but we can rejoice nonetheless, just as Paul and the Thessalonians did. Joy is that state of complete happiness and wellbeing (Hebrew: ashre andshalom) that results as we participate freely and increasingly in the life of God. Only Christians can know such unshakeable joy, and we may know it in any situation.

Paul mentions that the Thessalonians became examples to churches throughout Macedonia (northern Greece) and Achaia (southern Greece). So strong was their faith, so evident was it that real transformation was occurring in these believers, that others noticed and were encouraged. Why can’t our churches today be more like that?

Prepare.
1. To whom are you an example of following Jesus? Is your example as clear and consistent as it should be? How can you improve in your example to others?

2. How would you counsel a believer who was suffering some affliction to tap into the joy of the Lord? Does that mean such a person should not experience affliction? Or that it is somehow wrong to grieve or feel pain or hurt? Explain.

3. What would you say are the primary attributes of a true follower of Jesus Christ?

The affliction pertains to the body, and the joy to things spiritual. But how? The things that happened to them were burdensome, but not so the things that sprang up out of them, for the Spirit does not allow it. So then, it is possible for one who suffers not to rejoice when he is suffering for his sins but nevertheless to experience pleasure when he is being beaten and suffers for Christ’s sake. For such is the joy of the Spirit.  John Chrysostom (344-407 AD), Homilies on 1 Thessalonians 1

Fill me with Your joy, Lord, and help me to live as an example of a true follower of Jesus to…

Pray Psalm 79.
Many aspects of this psalm are pertinent to the state of the Church in our day. We are afflicted in many ways, and some of them are the result of our own bad choices. Seek the grace of God on behalf of believers everywhere, and give Him thanks for the many ways He cares for you, His sheep.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 79 (Passion Chorale: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded)
O God the nations all Your inheritance have spoiled!
Your City have they ruined, Your temple they have soiled!
Your servants’ bodies all to the birds of heav’n are thrown;
The flesh of all Your faithful the jaws of beasts now own.

The blood of faithful servants like water flows around;
And none are there Your saints to commit into the ground.
Our neighbors mock and scorn us: How long, O Lord, how long?
How long will You be angry and scorn our mournful song?

Pour out, O Lord, Your wrath on all who deny Your Name;
Who trust You not nor seek You, bring down to deepest shame!
For they have with great rancor Your precious saints devoured;
Lay waste their habitation at this late dreadful hour.

Why should the nations mock and say, “Where now is their God?”
Let there be known among them harsh vengeance for our blood!
Hear, Lord, our groans and sighing; preserve us by Your pow’r.
For we are fairly dying each day and hour by hour.

Reproach those who reproach us with judgment sevenfold!
Let thanks and praise to You by Your precious flock be told.
We are Your sheep, O Savior, we thank You all our days.
Look on us with Your favor as we declare Your praise.

T. M. Moore

Where do 1 and 2 Thessalonians fit in the unfolding of God’s covenant? Order our workbook, God’s Covenant, and find out how all Scripture fits within this redemptive framework (click here).

Forward today’s study to some friends, and challenge them to study with you through this series on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Each week’s lessons will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the week. Get a copy for yourself and send the link to the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Paul’s ministry and prepare for your own.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).