What a joyful commendation from the apostle Paul to the church in Thessalonica! "For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God is spread abroad..." (1:8).
If Paul, as a leader and overseer, is overjoyed to know that his fellow Christians are walking in obedience to God, imagine how God must feel! Unlike the persons indicted as frauds in Psalm 50 and Isaiah 1, we see an example of people not only claiming to belong to God, but living lives that back up their claim. That is, they lived lives of integrity and truthfulness and faith.
Bad news traveled, and good news traveled. People would talk. The believers from the church in Thessalonica were known throughout their region as men and women who lived and shared the word of the Lord in authenticity.
People still talk. When you are the subject of others' conversations, is there an atmosphere of commendation or condemnation? Your life is sending a message: everyone's life sends a message. If you claim to be a Christian, make sure your life is lived in keeping with the mandate and expectation of the Lord.
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