Paul
the apostle thanked God without ceasing because the Thessalonians
received the word of God as being shared from God Himself rather than
men, and in chapter two and verse fourteen of his letter, Paul goes
on to share how they “became followers of the churches of God”
which were in “Judaea” where we read:
For you,
brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are
in Christ Jesus: for you also have suffered like things of your own
countrymen, even as they have
of the Jews:
The
verse begins, “For you, brethren, became followers of the
churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus:” Paul
began with the words, “For you”
which refers to the Thessalonians” “brethren”
or “fellow believers united to each other in the bond of affection”
“became followers”
which means “came into existence to be imitators” “of
the churches of God” or
“gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public
place as an assembly of the Godhead bodily or trinity comprised of
God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “which
in Judaea” which means “he
shall be praised” and refers to “the southern portion of
Palestine lying on this side of the Jordan and the Dead Sea which
distinguishes it from Samaria, Galilee, Peraea, and Idumaea”
“are in Christ”
which refers to “the anointed One, Messiah and Son of God”
“Jesus” whose name
means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, Savior of
mankind and God incarnate”. Not only did the Thessalonians receive
the word of God as though it was from God Himself, but they also
became imitators of the churches which were established within the
Judaean cities.
The
verse goes on to say, “for you also have
suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have
of the Jews:” Paul went on to say, “for
you also” which refers to “the
Thessalonian church members” “have
suffered” or “been affected by, felt, had
a sensible experience in” “like things”
or “similar and same happenings” “of
your own countrymen” which means “by or
under their people and tribes” “even as
they” which refers to “the church members
in Judaea” “have of the Jews”
which refers to “those who belong to the Jewish nation as respect
to birth, origin and religion”. In a similar fashion to those who
“suffered” from
their own people as a church of Jesus Christ in Judaea, the
Thessalonian church members “suffered”
from their people as well.
When
we think through these words of Paul, we realize that people within
the churches paid a price for their belief and trust in Jesus Christ.
Just because a person believed in Jesus did not exempt them from
alienation or persecution from their fellow countrymen. Church
members within Judaea suffered, and those within Thessalonica did as
well. Sometimes people suffer greatly for their commitment to Jesus
Christ, and many have died for their beliefs. While we meditate upon
this idea, let us examine our own lives and determine if we live in
such a way that persecution is the result of our belief, and if it
is, let the Lord Jesus remind us we are in good company with Him when
we suffer like for these things.
Next
time Paul writes concerning those who “killed Jesus and
their own prophets”, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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