A quick reading of the first several verses of Acts 17 provides some background about the violent beginnings of the Thessalonian church. We always have to be careful not to think of MOMENTUM as being equal to GOOD TIMES. In fact, the Scriptures are clear that momentum is best set into motion through turbulence and trouble. Struggles are not signs that God has forgotten you, they are beacons that let us know that God is at work.
Because of the perseverance of the Thessalonian church in the middle of chaos and struggle, they became a model church – an example for all believers. In fact, because of their momentum the gospel ‘rang out’ throughout the region. Chrysostom thought that Paul was likening the preaching of the gospel to ‘the sound of a loud trumpet.’ Jerome described Paul’s writings as … “Not words but thunderclaps”. There wasn’t anything demure or ashamed in these early Christian lives. Quite the opposite. How much gospel thunder is coming from your church? From your life?
Maybe more than you think. Most Christians I know face many trials – and many of them do so with such grace that the gospel lives through their lives. You may be the ‘model’ Christian to people you do not even know. None of us knows the scope of our influence. The truth is that the gospel may be proclaimed every day without you being aware. That doesn’t excuse us from saying a good word for Christ, but I do want us to know that the message is already emanating from us. Christian influence is no small matter. Henry Ward Beecher said, “The humblest individual exerts some influence, either for good or evil, upon others.”
One of the ways that we proclaim the faith is by turning away from idols. We need to have a great turning away from idols today: money, science, sex, sports, self – people make them gods when they put them before the one and true God! Momentum … perseverance… endurance is gained when we continue to live out the gospel message under the weight of suffering.
I have one more source of momentum to write about.
Thanks for reading,
John
I love this post, John…full of much truth & encouragement.
Loved this line…”Struggles are not signs that God has forgotten you, they are beacons that let us know that God is at work.”
Through times of challenging struggle, I know I have often questioned if God abandoned me or forgot about me, but I know His Word tells otherwise-that He will never leave us or forsake us…but is always working THROUGH us to achieve His glory and will. We may not always see the results, but thankfully we have a Father who is always working and moving through His Spirit.
Thanks for the reminder, brother!!
Thank you Katherine…keep up the great work!