Persecution is Bound to Come
March 24, 2020
Commentary
This passage can be divided into two topics:
The Word of God within you (v. 13). We must never treat the Bible as we would some other book. This verse communicates the idea that the Word of God is to be taken by us. It means to welcome eagerly. When we receive the Bible, we’re saying that we acknowledge its authority. When we accept it, we are allowing it into our hearts so that we can be changed by it. We should never say, “I know what the Bible says, but…” If we know what the Bible says, then there’s no “but.” We should say, “I know what the Bible says, period.” How can we say we believe the Bible and accept its authority if we do not spend time daily in the Word? Too many people have substituted entertainment for the preaching and teaching of God’s Word.The enemies of God upon you (vv. 14-16). Just as the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem were persecuted, so were the Gentile Christians persecuted in Thessalonica. When the Word of God is within us, the enemies of God will be upon us. If you believe the Bible you are going to have some enemies. One of the evidences that God’s Word continues to work is that believers all around the world experience affliction and suffer persecution. Every generation of Christian has known persecution and martyrdom. “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ to not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him” (Phil. 1:29). “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted: (I Tim. 3:12).
Application
Would I rather have the Bible than food, money, or sleep? My desire for loving and serving the Lord can be measured by my desire to read and study the Word on a daily basis.
1 Thessalonians 2:13– 16 (NET)
13 And so we too constantly thank God that when you received God’s message that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human message, but as it truly is, God’s message, which is at work among you who believe. 14 For you became imitators, brothers and sisters, of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, because you too suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they in fact did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us severely. They are displeasing to God and are opposed to all people, 16 because they hinder us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they constantly fill up their measure of sins, but wrath has come upon them completely.