What a Change!

I Thessalonians 1: 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Paul's first letter to the Thessalonian Christians is considered one of his earliest and most positive epistles. Those two descriptions may be related: man had not had many years to mess up what Christ had begun. These last verses wrap up a very joyful prayer by Paul over the testimony this church had before a watching world.  They had enthusiastically embraced the Gospel, been convicted by the Holy Spirit, repenting and turning away from their idolatry and life of sin, to follow Christ, living for Him, and looking with anticipation to his return.  As they did so, they were known for their love for one another, faithfulness to God's truth, and joy despite suffering for the cause of Christ. May we have the same reputation they did!