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1 THESSALONIANS
1 Thessalonians 1:1
I, Paul, greet you believers who are in Thessalonica
WealwaysthankGodforyouall. Wecontinuallyrememberthewayyouliveas believers andweknowthatGodchoseyou. TheHolySpiritenabledusto powerfully tellyouthegoodmessage, andalthoughpeoplepersecutedyougreatly, youwerejoyful. Asaresult, youinspiredallthe believers whoarein Macedonia and Achaia totrustinGodfirmly, asyoudo.
You and God know that it is true that we behaved in a very virtuous, upright, and irreproachable manner toward you. You know also that we continually exhorted, encouraged, and urged that you behave in the way that God’s people should.
WecontinuallythankGodalsothatyouacceptedastrueamessagethatdoesnotoriginatefromhumanbeings. Instead, youacceptedastruethemessagethat originates fromGod, andtheresultwasthatpeoplecausedyoutosufferas Christ did.
Itisbecauseofyouthatwearepleasedandjoyful. Sowhenpeopleforced Silas, Timothy andmetobeseparatedfromyouforashorttime, westronglydesiredtobewithyou.
When I could no longer endure worrying about you, I sent Timothy to you in order to find out whether or not you were still trusting in God.
Now Timothy hasjustreturnedandhastoldusthegoodnewsthatyoustilltrustin Christ. Asaresult, wehavebeen cheered up, andwecannotthankGodadequatelyforwhathehasdoneforyou. Very frequently weaskGodthatwewillbeabletovisityouandhelpyoutotrusthimmorestrongly.
WepraythatGodwillhelpustoreturntoyouandthattheLordJesuswillhelpyoutoloveeachotherandotherpeoplemoreandmore, justlikeweloveyoumoreandmore.
Just like we told you previously, we strongly urge you to increasingly live in a way that will please God.
Godwantsyou, byyourbehavingina sexually pureway, toshowthatyoucompletelybelongtohim.
Weurgeyoutoincreasinglyloveeachother, tostrivetoworkatyourown occupations, andnotmeddlein others’ affairs.
Godwillcausetoliveagainthose believers whodiedandwillbringthemtotheskywithJesus. Encourageeachotherbytellingthismessage.
We believers should be prepared for the time when the Lord Jesus returns and not be as unbelievers who will be unprepared. We must not be like them. On the contrary, we must be vigilant and self-controlled.
Godhasdestinedus believers tobesavedfromfuturepunishmentandtobeabletolivetogetherwithourLordJesusafterhereturns. Sincethisistrue, encourageeachother.
Recognizeasleadersthosepeoplewhocareforandinstructyou; highlyesteemandlovethem. Livepeacefullywitheachother.
Warn believers whowillnotwork, andencourageandhelpthosewhoneedit. Bepatientwithallpeople. Dogoodthingsforallofthem, includingthosewhodoevilthingstoyou.
Alwaysrejoice, pray, andthankGod.
EvaluateallmessagesthatpeopleclaimthattheHolySpiritgavethem. Accept authentic messagesandobeythem.
WepraythatGodwillcauseyoutobe distinct peoplewhobehaverightineveryway, andIamsurethathewilldothis.
Prayforus. Affectionately greetallyourfellowbelievers, andmakecertainthatsomeonereadsthisletteraloudtoallofthem. MaytheLordblessyou.

© Copyright © 2008-2017 Ellis W. Deibler, Jr.