Started in on Paul’s first letter to the church of the Thessalonians this morning. It would seem from Acts 17:1-10 that Paul was only in the city of Thessalonica for 3 weeks preaching the gospel before he had to leave town because of persecution. For three Sabbaths he reasoned with them from the Scriptures concerning Jesus . . . that He was the Christ . . . that He had suffered and risen again from the dead . . . and it took . . . “And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas” (17:4). And from the very onset of this letter to the Thessalonians, you get the sense that they were a pretty amazing group of believers.

Three weeks to plant the seed . . . to see some shoots spring forth . . . to set the foundation for a group of believers who “became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe” (1:7). Theirs was not just a quick conversion but a solid conversion . . . it really took . . . evidence that the gospel did not come to them in “word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit” (1Thess. 1:5). It was clear that they had been chosen of God (1:4) to bear light in a remarkable way.

They were marked by their “work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope” (1:3) . . . their reputation preceded them . . . their faith toward God had gone out (1:8). It was evident to all, says Paul, that they had “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, who He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1:9-10). And that, in a nutshell, is what I think the “secret sauce” was for the Thessalonians’ amazing impact on the world around them. Through the preaching of the word and the power of the Spirit, salvation “took” and they realized that they were to serve and to wait.

The turned from the old ways . . . they set their backs to the world and the value system they had embraced for their entire lives . . . and they set their face toward the God who had provided their salvation through His Son . . . they determined to serve the living and true God. They would yield obedience . . . they would do service . . . they would align their desires and priorities . . . to the God who had revealed Himself to them. Not some idol, but the living God . . . not one “flavor” of truth, but THE true God. Salvation being more than just “receiving a gift” but also an act of the will to submit to the God who had called them into marvelous light. These believers knew it was theirs to serve.

And, they were to wait for His Son. Not go pitch tents on a some mountain and gaze toward the eastern sky, but to put all of life’s happenings in the context of God’s soon returning Son. The persecution that had driven Paul out of town after only three Sabbaths of preaching was their day in, day out, atmosphere for “doing life.” It cost them to name Christ as Messiah . . . to declare the living God as the only God . . . to assert that there was only one way to peace with God. They were constantly swimming against the tide. How do you do that day after day? You keep one eye on heaven . . . you constantly remind yourself that this earthbound life isn’t the main event . . . you start each morning with, “Perhaps today?” . . . you wait for His Son.

To Serve and To Wait.

Not to be overly simplistic, but these “bottom line” summaries of the Christian life can be really helpful for me. I know it’s about a lot more than a simple catch phrase . . . but sometimes it’s those “bumper sticker” reminders that help to put things into perspective . . . that provide that additional ounce of encouragement when any encouragement is welcomed . . . that provide that bit of strength when your own strength seems to be ebbing.

At it’s essence isn’t the call of the believer? . . . to serve and to wait? . . . for the glory of God? . . . I’m thinking so . . .