Remain Steadfast
Hope and Holiness Part 2: 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7
Sometimes being a Christian can be lonely. Sometimes it can be hard. But following Christ is always rewarding because we know how the story will end. Although we experience earthly hardship, we can live confidently knowing that the Christian is a receiver and carrier of good news.
In 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul continues his letter with three specific acknowledgements, beginning in verse four. I like to think of these as three reasons for celebration or praise! These are not mere affirmations like other kinds that tend to be empty or vague like “you got this.”
Paul encourages the Thessalonians by affirming what they are doing and how they are living and presses them to continue in that manner. This is a hearty encouragement — the kind where someone holds you tightly when you feel weak or starts running by your side to ensure you make it across the finish line.
And Paul knows hardship and heartache firsthand. While in prison for preaching the Gospel, he writes, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him [...] — that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:8-10).
So he first begins by reminding the Thessalonian people of who and whose they are — chosen and loved by God. Second, he acknowledges that when the Gospel was brought to them, they received the message with joy despite the presence of persecution and suffering in their lives. Third, he is encouraged because they not only received the Gospel through hearing, but they began to model and imitate their lives based on the apostles and the Lord himself.
The impact is evident. Paul draws attention to the outcome, which is absolutely worth celebrating. And in verse 7, we read that the Thessalonians have become an example to all believers in Greece because of the way they live. They are doers of the word (James 1:22-25).
We read the best news — “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).
The Thessalonians remained steadfast. So can we.
Friends, I know what it’s like to be rejected for being a Christian. If I could give one encouragement to my former teenage self, I’d remind her that sometimes people won’t like her simply because she loves the Lord. Sometimes she’ll be uninvited, left out, or forgotten. She’ll be teased. She’ll be disliked. And if we’re honest, when circumstances are difficult, it is easy to become cynical. It’s easy to become discouraged when encountering isolation. Both my husband and I know and love people who mock us for following Christ. We experience this as adults as well. But we continue to wait, pray, and hope. Let us remain steadfast so that we too can be examples to all believers and in doing so, encourage others too.
So, I leave you with these questions for personal reflection:
Am I a carrier of good news or a cynic?
Do I put into practice these principles lived out like the Apostle Paul and the Thessalonians?
Do my priorities and affections reflect that Christ is my ultimate treasure?
