A Pleasing Congregation Before God

Let us read the expository epistle of Thessalonians 1:1-10

“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Verse 1)



Thessalonica, the capital city of Macedonia, lies on the strategic Gulf Terma. This city has been a busy business center up to now. It reached its peak prosperity during Roman colony.

Since it belonged to a free-market city, many ideologies including idolatry could be found there.

The church of the Thessalonians was the fruitful ministry of Apostle Paul in his second journey. A great multitude of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women joined this church. (Acts 17:4)



“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.” (Verse 2)



Due to the heterogeneous ideologies, the Christians suffered great afflictions. However, the church of the Thessalonians kept serving the Lord despite Paul’s long absence. For this reason, Apostle Paul gave thanks to God.

It becomes a great desire of a servant of God to see his (ex-) congregation living pleasingly before God and becoming a living testimony for the glory of God in spite of hard struggle. On the contrary, he will grieve a lot to see them suffering from spiritual crisis.



“Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,” (Verse 3)



In this case, Apostle Paul thanked the Church of the Thessalonians for three things, namely:

1. Their work of faith

Their work was done by the faith of Jesus Christ as the response of what God has granted in Christ to enable them to do things that please God despite difficult situations.

2. Labor of love

The love here belonged to the Agape love, the one which is without any ulterior motives.

As we know, many Christians do things actively by faith but not a few do them with the hope to get some praises or rewards in return. Consequently, when they do not gain what they have expected, they become disappointed and even withdraw from church. It proves that they do it conforming to human love which is self-centered.

Let it be that we, having been redeemed by the costly blood of Christ, do good things driven by His unconditioned love to enable us to keep serving Him in spite of gossips, mockery, or hatred.

3. Patience of hope

The church of the Thessalonians had patience of hope surpassing the hardship of life. Their long-suffering hope triggered them to survive despite great afflictions.

We also have hope to wait for the Lord, our bridegroom, to come and fetch us as His Bride.



“knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our Gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.” (Verses 4-5)



We have to be thankful to God who has not chosen us at random but through the power of the Gospel.

Ephesians 1:4 says that God chose us before the foundation of the world, but the key word lies on verse 13:

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, in whom after having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”

This verse tells us that we are set into His elects after we have heard and believed the Word of truth.

Indeed, the Gospel is for everyone but Jesus Himself said that many are called but few are chosen or as it is portrayed in a parable of a king who arranged a marriage fro his son. (Matthew 22:1-14)

In short, our being elected relies on our response to God’s grace through Christ’s sacrifice.

Bear in mind that salvation is solely of God’s grace, not of man’s good deeds.



The Word of God is preached not with the philosophy of man but with the power of the Holy Spirit and in deep conviction. As Christians, we should have not only belief but also conviction to avoid falling into sin again.

For example: Joseph had deep conviction to God to keep him away from lying with Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39). So did Moses; he preferred suffering affliction with the people of God to enjoying the passing pleasures of sin in Pharaoh’s palace. (Hebrews 11:24-26)



“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.” (Verses 6-7)



The church of the Thessalonians desired to become imitators of Jesus. Such relationship is like that of teacher-student (‘Matetes’, in Greek) in which the student tries his best to absorb all of his teacher’s knowledge and skills.

We, the Lord Jesus’ disciples, should also have great longing to be like Him.

A servant of God or a Pastor should first of all become an imitator of Christ in his life as well as ministry to become a model for his congregation, followed by others.



“For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to 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, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (Verses 8-10)



So far the church of the Thessalonians did not have to propagate themselves to be the best church, but people knew their great faith from mouth to mouth. What testimony could be found in them? They renounced their old belief as idolaters and gave up their work as sculptors or incense sellers, etc. to serve the invisible living God.

In fact, we should be willing to pay a price for losing money, position, etc. for the sake of God.

Our spiritual life should be intensified to be imitators of Christ to attract others to come and hear the Bride Tidings without necessarily propagandizing it.



Let us imitate the church of the Thessalonians – who live pleasingly before God due to their work of faith, labor of love and patience of hope – to enable us to become living testimonies in the midst of society and to welcome the second coming of the Lord.



Amen.