After his customary greeting (v 1), Paul shows the depth and warmth of his love for the Thessalonians. Have a look at what he gives thanks for (vs 2,3). Notice how Paul’s thanksgiving is grounded in things they do: their work (of faith), their labour (of love) and their endurance (in hope). The reality of their faith, love and hope is proved by what they do.

He carries on in the same vein: the gospel message came not only with words but with power (v 5); they turned away from their old life and began to live differently (vs 6,9); they became visible examples of faith (v 8). As Jesus said (in Matthew 7:16), ‘By their fruit you will recognise them.’ I wonder what people would recognise from the fruit of your lifestyle, and mine? 

One final point is important: did they do this to earn God’s love? No, for that is where Paul begins (v 4). God first loves and chooses his people; then his people respond, hopefully as wholeheartedly as in first- century Thessalonica.

‘O Lord, open our lips / and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.’¹

Recently, I stayed on holiday near a friary. Early each morning the bells would ring out, calling the monks to prayer and advertising to the whole neighbourhood that Christ was being worshipped. Paul adopts a similar image to tell the Thessalonians how the Lord’s message ‘rang out’ from them across the whole region (v 8); the Greek verb more precisely means to ‘resound’ or ‘roar like thunder’.² Their example communicated the gospel so effectively that Paul didn’t need to tell other people about their faith – other people told him about it! This seems extraordinary in a pre-internet, pre-printing-press world. How did the Thessalonians witness to so many outside their immediate area? Well, Paul says that they became a ‘model’ (v 7) for other believers because they had received the gospel with the joy of the Holy Spirit, despite this involving ‘severe suffering’, presumably from persecution (v 6). In so doing, they imitated not only the apostles but also Jesus himself, who endured the cross for ‘the joy that was set before him’.³ This is the kind of example that really talks. The reason they could act like this was because they had received the gospel powerfully through the Holy Spirit and were fully convinced of it: it was never just ‘words’ for them (v 5).

The church is called to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ to all people, everywhere. Alongside preaching and programmes, do we need to reconnect with the incredible truth that God loves us, and rediscover by God’s grace the utter joy of the Holy Spirit, whatever our outward circumstances? Let us pray that, as God’s Spirit lives in us together, our faith will roar across the world, just as the faith of the Thessalonians did years ago.

Unusually, Paul describes the whole church, not one individual, as a ‘model’ to others. Be encouraged, and encourage others, that we’re never alone: our witness is a joint effort.

¹ From Morning Prayer, Common Worship, Church House Publishing, 2000, p30  ² Witherington, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Eerdmans, 2006, p73  ³ Heb 12:2