1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
Tag: The Gospel Changes Our Focus
In this letter to the church of the Thessalonians, Paul is commending them for their steadfast walk. Paul had visited them after he was run out of Philippi. The church began in affliction and Paul left sooner than he wanted to leave. He sent Timothy back to see how they were dong and the church did not disappoint. They were living large for Christ. Why? How? Because when the Spirit of God comes into your life with the torch of the Gospel you are ignited to shine your life differently. Notice in the above verses the change in their focus. They quit focusing on “idols” and put their hope in Christ and His return. They no longer looked at the things of this world to give them hope and contentment. Instead, their focus was changed to see the risen Christ. There was a turning of their focus. The Gospel does not come into the life and leave us the same. If we say we have the Gospel and remain the same something is very much wrong ... and, it is not the Gospel. The Gospel changes our focus. It must!! Once we believe in Christ we have hope in His saving grace and return. We no longer hope in “idols” - worthless objects that catch our eyes. Those things never satisfy. God does.
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