1 Thessalonians 1:5 - Power in the gospel

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 1:5
5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
NASU


Thoughts:

Paul writes of the power that accompanied the preaching of the gospel to the Thessalonians.  It was not uncommon for God to orchestrate miraculous signs through Paul and his team, as they preached the gospel.

Truly, there is power in the gospel.  We immediately affirm this, but sometimes have reservations, as well.  Because of satanic imitation and the false practices of charlatans, many times we're more comfortable limiting the gospel to "word only."  We want to keep it closer to the realm of the natural, and not allow it to bridge into the supernatural.

Whereas it may be true that the Lord is not working through signs and wonders as He did in Paul's day -- at least not in western churches -- He does still work!  Christians can and do have legitimate, biblical interactions with God that are beyond merely intellectual.  Our fear of abuses can cause us to miss out on the real thing, too!


Prayer:

Lord, I want more of You in my life.  I don't want my walk with You to be limited to my time in the Bible or at church, but to be  everyday, 24 by 7!  As the hymnist wrote:

"I need Thee, Oh I need Thee.  Every hour, I need Thee"

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.