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The Ongoing Power of the Resurrection
1 Thess. 1:10 - "...and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."
So much of a Christian's faith depends on the resurrection of Jesus from the dead! If Jesus had failed to emerge victorious from the tomb, his promises would have been lies, his proclaimed power would have been proven impotent, and we would still be lost (1 Cor. 15:17-19).
When Paul was chased from Thessalonica after having been in town for less than a month, he left behind some newly converted Christians who needed further encouragement and grounding (Acts 17:1-9). He sent Timothy to them, and upon hearing the report of their devotion to Christ and each other he decided that one of the first things they needed to be reminded of was the significance of Jesus' resurrection.
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He reminded them that the things they had formerly lived for were worthless and dead idols (1 Thess. 1:9). No one should want to return to what they recognize as worthless and dead.
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He reminded them who they had turned to was true and living (1 Thess. 1:9)! If God is living and true, he is someone you would never want to walk away from.
- He reminded them that all Christians are waiting for the return of the firstborn from the dead, Jesus (1 Thess. 1:10)! This would remind them that what there were currently enduring was temporary, and refocus them on the eternal hope they possessed in Jesus.
As each of us turns to Christ we need to recognize the spiritual dead end of the things we currently live for, and turn to the only true and living God, which is only possible through His resurrected Son! And when, like the Thessalonians, we struggle because of mistreatment or because we feel alone in our faith, we need to be reminded by caring siblings of the incredible things accomplished for us in the resurrection and patiently wait for his amazing return.
Jeremy Dehut
