2022_03_30 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- 1 Thessalonians 1-2
Writing to the new church in Thessalonica, Paul wants to encourage them to stay strong and focused. The new Believers are facing a lot of opposition and suffering due to their acceptance of Jesus. Paul is very proud of their strength and the clear evidence that the Holy Spirit is empowering them “For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.” 1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NLT)
We get an idea of how this worked in chapter 2, “Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you. 10 You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers.” 1 Thessalonians 2:9–10 (NLT)
Paul isn’t just telling them how to live a life dependent on God, but he has been showing them by his own example. There is something here we all need to take a deep and hard look at. If you are a leader, are you leading by example or merely edict? Parents, are you showing your kids how to navigate life or just telling them? All of us, are we living in such a way that the clear evidence of our daily lives and choices is that Jesus is our Savior and Leader? And not just in the “big stuff’ but the little everyday choices, attitudes, and behaviors.
As a pastor, I am challenged by Paul to evaluate my life – my attitudes, actions, and words – to make sure that it reflects genuine trust in Jesus. The old adage says, “actions speak louder than words” I prefer to say, “words speak louder with actions.”
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor