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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
I Thessalonians Chapter 2 verse 10 – You know how we lived among you. So frequently Paul speaks in terms of personal testimony and refers to his example and pattern for life and belief and ministry.
You who believe in Jesus Christ know how we behaved. God honoured Paul’s words and ministry by putting His seal upon them.
He speaks about being ‘holy’ – which means being ‘set apart’ – ‘set apart’ for God for God’s use – and being fit for God’s use – the sense of being pure in His sight. Paul could write that amidst all that was happening around him.
He speaks about being ‘righteous’ – there was a right living – a right conduct – and one consequence was that he was ‘blameless’
v.11 – You know how we exhorted or encouraged you – we comforted or consoled or spoke kindly to you – and charged you or urged you to live lives worthy of God.
v.12 – The aim of all Paul’s ministry was to see people living worthy of their being called by God.
v.13 – We give thanks and praise God for you. Preaching affects preachers.
When you received the Word of God, you received it as the Word of God. You knew it was not just a word from men – but the Word of God.
‘Received’ means that they accepted the word as authoritative – and they received it as factually true. They received it because it was true.
They received it with welcoming open arms – and this speaks of the reception given to a guest. This is how we are to receive the Word of God.
Where this happens we see the power of the Word working in believing hearts – preaching affects hearers. The power of God was unleashed in their lives.
This is what gave these Christians such a vitality, and it was the importance of the Word and how it was received that produced this type of result.
You can be certain that you are receiving the Word of God for the right motive when you suffer in some way for it.
The Word of God is not just a theme to raise an interesting discussion or conversation.
It was God’s powerful word that motivated and inspired these believers who had come to real faith in Jesus Christ.
In some churches there us what is called “a crisis of confidence in the Scriptures”.
That high sounding phrase simply means that some people have difficulty in believing the Bible to be the inerrant authoritative Word of God. Some ignore the parts they do not like and avoid these Chapters that are too demanding and question the reliability of various other passages.
This Church was sure of the Word of God from the beginning and that involved the Old Testament and preaching of the apostles.
Let God reinforce that conviction that the Scriptures are The Word of God. Our view of Scripture is crucial to the extent of our spiritual growth and energy.
v.14 – The Word had worked character into these lives. They were people with character which was of immense value.
They faced pressures and persecution and they reacted so positively. The wind of hostility appeared to drive them forward spiritually.
Religious men did it. That was who was behind it all. Opposition can appear from the most unlikely source. When God is at work the enemy can be active too.
Paul was an apostle but he related to them as brothers. We saw how he was also like a mother nursing her children and firm father too. ‘Brother’ is found some 21 times in these two letters, reminding us of our relationship in Christ and to one another.
v.15 – is such a strong clear unconfused verse with such clarity of thought.
They killed Jesus and their own prophets – and these were the men God sent to them. And now they have persecuted us.
When Jesus tried to get the religious leaders to come near to God, they crucified Him.
This does not please God. God was not pleased with what they were doing.
v.16 – The Jews – the religious people – did not want Paul to speak about Jesus.
Not only did they refuse the Word, but they wanted to prevent others from hearing the Word. They tried to strangle the preaching of the Word of God.
This has gone on from the beginning. People want to silence the Word of God, in case some are saved and converted and born again.
They were filled up to the brim with sins. We see what they had done and what such people continue to do – and all that lies before them is judgment. So many do not realise that rejecting Christ leads to judgment.
“Gracious God – help us to welcome Your Word with open arms and open heart – help me to be a more avid reader of Your Word – so that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit I may change and develop and grow – hear my prayer in Jesus name. Amen”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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