Why Would Anyone Imitate Suffering? - December 17

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16

For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

Reflect

Why was Paul commending the believers in Thessalonica?

Imitation doesn’t always deserve commendation. For instance, did your mother ever say to you, “If all of your friends jumped off a cliff, would you?” Mom had a good point. We shouldn’t emulate people who consistently make poor choices and suffer negative consequences as a result.

So, it may come as a surprise to you that Paul is commending the believers in Thessalonica for imitating people who had suffered greatly. Back in 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7, Paul said that the believers in Thessalonica were “imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit...”

First, the Thessalonians were imitators of Paul, Silas, and Timothy who had met many an angry mob throughout their missionary journeys. Most of the trouble was stirred up by Jews who didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah and viewed them as heretics (see Acts 14:2 for example). But the church in Thessalonica followed them anyway. In other words, fully knowing that it would likely lead to the same severe persecution, they accepted the Gospel. Then, they took it a step further and imitated Paul’s zeal for sharing the Good News with others so they could be saved too! Sure enough, the imitation incited opposition from their fellow Thessalonians.

Second, Paul said that the Thessalonians were imitators of the Lord. Now, we know that Jesus suffered at the hands of the unbelieving Jews as well. He suffered the greatest humiliation possible—execution on a Roman cross. The Jews plotted to have him killed because they didn’t like what He had to say and they didn’t believe the claims He made. The Jewish religious leaders killed Old Testament prophets for the same reason.

Third, in today’s passage, Paul added that the believers in Thessalonica had also become imitators of the believers in Judea. The believers there had endured horrible persecution from the get go. Interestingly, the persecution that the church in Judea suffered initially stemmed from Paul himself! You can read all about Paul’s early opposition to the church in Acts 7:54-8:4. Paul had approved of the stoning of Stephen by an angry mob and dragged Christians off to prison. Though of course, after Jesus got ahold of him, Paul was a changed man (Acts 9).

At this point, you may be thinking like your mother. Why in the world would it be to your credit to copy the actions of people who were repeatedly beaten, tossed into prison, and run out of town all because of their support of a man who had been crucified? That seems a lot like following your friends off a cliff…

But that’s not Paul’s point, is it? His commendation of them wasn’t for suffering so much as Who they were willing to suffer for. He praised them for accepting the Gospel as the Word of God, not the word of men (1 Thessalonians 2:13) thus, they were suffering for the cause of Jesus Christ. They were willing to suffer because they knew His resurrection really did happen. They knew Jesus really was the Messiah. So, even though it would likely mean trouble for them, they didn’t back down. They didn’t turn tail and run. They courageously stood firm on the truth of God’s Word and sought to share it with others. Despite many hindrances, they pressed on. They persevered. They endured.

Friends, may we be imitators of the Thessalonians. May we accept the Gospel with much joy and be passionate about sharing the Good News with others. It may not make us popular. It may incite opposition and persecution. “But we do not lose heart…for this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16a, 17-18).

Respond

Lord, make me like the Thessalonians. By Your Holy Spirit, give me courage and joy in the midst of fear of affliction. I know that suffering for You is more than worth it compared to joy that awaits me in eternity. Help me to press on, endure, and persevere for Your name’s sake. Amen.

Reveal

How we endure ridicule or persecution for our faith reveals the Holy Spirit in us. Consider how you reveal God’s hope to others in the midst of trials.