1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 - Joy of the Lord

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 1:6-7
6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
NASU


Thoughts:

The Thessalonians came to Christ and then faced tribulation as a result.  Having abandoned false gods, as Paul affirmed:

1 Thessalonians 1:9b
... you turned to God from idols ...
NASU

now they faced persecution. 

In 1st century Roman culture, who you worshiped could affect all sorts of things:  your social life; your acceptance from family; even your employment.  Yet, in spite of all that, they had joy.  They had joy because they found that joy in God (verse 6), not in their surroundings.

For many of us, if we are honest with ourselves, joy is too often missing from our lives.  But we must take encouragement from this ancient church.  Just as their joy was not dependent on their circumstances, neither is ours.  Our joy as Christians does not depend on life being pleasant, but on the Holy Spirit.  He never runs out of it!


Prayer:

Lord, I choose to receive Your joy, today.  My life is so easy compared to these people, and yet I so easily get discouraged by every little bump.

Forgive me!  Make me a person of faith and joy in You. 

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.