1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (NRSV)
Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
Verse 2We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly Verse 3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 4For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, Verse 5because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.
Verse 6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, Verse 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. Verse 8For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. Verse 9For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, Verse 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
Devotion
It's Wednesday, the middle of the week, when the cares of work and the day's activities build and we lose our bearings. Last Sunday is a distant memory. The Sunday to come is too far in the future. Today, Wednesday, is all about work and school and shopping and...the list goes on.
How does the Sunday worship relate to the Wednesday busyness of life? Maybe that is the wrong question. Because then Sunday is defined by the cares of Wednesday, and we evaluate Sunday worship according to our Wednesday world—were we entertained? Did the message help me cope? Was it a break from the week?
In these opening words to the Thessalonians, Paul turns the weekly equation inside out. Paul begins with Sunday. We gather in worship, because God has gathered us. We believe, because God has acted in our lives. Wednesday still has its cares and concerns, but now Sunday defines our God-given identity and approach to Wednesday, not Wednesday to Sunday.
Prayer
Dear God, in those Wednesday moments when my life seems nothing more than the sum of daily concerns and tasks, give me a Sunday perspective to see the greater reality of Your Kingdom and my baptismal call. Amen.