As It Is In Truth, The Word Of God
Receiving God’s Word
Whenever the word of God is preached, the Thessalonians received it with great joy, as it says in 1 Thessalonians 1: 6 and 7,
“And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.”
The Thessalonians faced much persecution as they received God’s Word, yet they did so with much joy. In 1 Thessalonians 2: 13, Paul describes how the Thessalonians not only received God’s Word, they also welcomed it.
“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”
The idea of welcoming God’s Word is to show hospitality to it, to invite it into your heart in the same way that you would gladly invite your family or friends into your house. I too have been guilty of taking the preaching of God’s word for granted! If the Thessalonians were able to receive God’s Word with joy and to be ready to welcome it into their hearts even under persecution, so much more we who have God’s Word fed to us week after week!
Regard for the Preached Word
The Thessalonians understood that the preached word was the Word of God, not the word of men, as it’s says in 1 Thessalonians 2: 13 – “you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God”.
Since the world began, the Word of God has manifested itself in different ways (Hebrews 1: 1). The Word of God may be spoken. To the prophets of old, “Thus says the LORD” was the phrase that captured the power and authority of spoken Word of God. God Himself backed up each word spoken by the prophets because they were God’s own words. The Word of God may be written, as embodied by the phrase “It is written” (see Jesus’ use of it in Matthew 4). The written word still contains all the power and authority of God’s Word. What about the preaching and teaching of God’s Word? As far as the Thessalonians were concerned, each time Paul or any of his company preached God’s Word, they saw it for what it really was. It was not merely the words of man – not matter how great the man! It was truly the Word of God, as preached by His servants. The high regard that the Thessalonians had for the preached Word caused them to sit up and listen carefully each time a message was preached. They listened with willing ears and open hearts because they understood the preached Word as truly the Word of God.
Believing What You Hear
The last part of 1 Thessalonians 2: 13 says “you who believe”. There was one more step which the Thessalonians took – and this was the step of faith! The Thessalonians genuinely believed in God’s promises to them – to change their lives, to give them hope and power and triumph! God promises us that as we do so His Word will “effectively work” in us. It will operate in us and begin to effect changes in our lives till we, like the Thessalonians, can be examples to all believers (1 Thessalonians 1: 7).
If you have been listening to one message after another, but have found no changes in your life, perhaps you want to follow the example of the Thessalonians in the way you receive and regard God’s Word. If you have had bad habits that you have long wanted to break, perhaps this is your starting point! I know and believe that God’s Word will operate powerfully in us to change our lives for good.