For this cause also thank we God
without ceasing, because, when ye
received the word of God which
ye heard of us, ye received it not
as the word of men, but as it is in
truth, the word of God, which effectually
worketh also in you that believe. For ye,
brethren became followers of the
churches of God in Judea are in Christ
Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things
of your own countrymen, even as they
have persecuted us: and they please
not God, and are contrary to all men:
forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles
that they might be saved, to fill up
their sins alway: for the wrath is come
upon them to the uttermost.
1Thessalonians 2:13-16
In Acts 17:5 we learn that the Jews stirred up the gentile inhabitants of Thessalonica against the Christians. The Jews had done what many do today when they believe that they have the only way to God and detest all others who will not believe the way they do. the Jews had this bad attitude which was an abhorrence for all other nations and considered themselves as they only favored and enlightened by God. It is true that God elected them to be His people upon this earth to have and hold the truth about Him, but not to be exclusive as the only people of God, rather they were to be His manifestation to the world. To bring to the world the truth about Him. The Jews did receive the word of God, His law, His requirements of worship to Him and so they were the people of God representing Him to the world. Not to be an isolationist people, rather a people of God. This they did not do and here in Thessalonica they cause considerable persecution as they had done elsewhere and this continued badly until the Roman Empire destroyed many or the Jewish provinces and people. We see this type of thinking with other religions: i.e., Islam especially whereby they will kill those who will not follow their form or religion. This occurred with some of those "Christians," during the inquisitions when this occurred as well. Christianity, God, is not to be conjoined with a government. It is not that Christians should not be involved in government and government dealings for we are the harbingers of Justice as God is Just. But we are not to push our religion upon a government making our religion the only religion. Yes, Christianity is God's religion! Christianity is the truth about God! When Christianity is following the word of God and not the word of men then Christians are examples and a manifestation of God here on earth. We are His witnesses, not His hit men!
God in His sacred oracles is where truth is to be found and deduced and here is where God is to be found. Not by some man or men who have speculated, or given their opinion as the truth, no, it is by the word of God rightly divided where a person comes to know the truth. Those who are hindering the word of God, even going so far as to replace it with the words of men, are to blame for what is occurring in this world that is hurting men and women. Those false words of men being taken as truth because a person will take the road of least resistance is causing almost irreparable harm to this present generation and generations to come. This is where those who like the Thessalonians who faced similar problems stood firm on the word of God and not of men. We should receive the word of God with affections suitable to His holiness, wisdom, truth, and goodness. Men's words of fickle, always changing, never satisfied with what is good, always looking for something better which in the end never proves better but leaves people in a pit of darkness searching for answers when the answer is in the word of God. We are the witnesses, the ambassadors for God who are responsible to bring to the world this light, this light of truth.
Why so many disregard the word of God? Is it because of so much infighting among denominations? Is it because there is so little preparations in the Churches to prepare God's children to defend their faith? Let us get this thinking in our minds, our senses; these are the words of God, not men, and we then submit to those words of God. We put our whole souls and bodies into this work given to us by our gracious God. Why should any man resist the wisdom of God and deny the people the bread of life, Jesus Christ, whereupon they should feed. This light whereby the may walk safely, hearing and reading the word of God from which they learn to turn from idolatrous ways, from sins that serve the body and not the soul? Why should we deny them the truth?
The preaching of the Gospel requires faith:
not faith in believing, nor faith in wishful thinking,
but faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of history and Savior
of the world.
The saving power of Jesus Christ is the one inexhaustible
resource God has given to men, but it requires the
instrumentality of faith to make it real.
"According to your faith be it unto you."
Romans 12:6 (Billy Graham)
God is your Resource
Richard L. Crumb
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