1 Thessalonians 1:1-2:8.

1 Thessalonians 1.1 – 2.8

From Paul, Silas, and Timothy.
To the church in Thessalonica, the people of God the Father and of the
Lord Jesus Christ.
I pray that God will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!
We thank God for you and always mention you in our prayers. Each time
we pray, we tell God our Father about your faith and loving work and
about your firm hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Thessalonians' Faith and Example

My dear friends, God loves you, and we know he has chosen you to be
his people. When we told you the good news, it was with the power and
assurance that come from the Holy Spirit, and not simply with words.
You knew what kind of people we were and how we helped you. So, when
you accepted the message, you followed our example and the example of
the Lord. You suffered, but the Holy Spirit made you glad. You became
an example for all the Lord's followers in Macedonia and Achaia. And
because of you, the Lord's message has spread everywhere in those
regions. Now the news of your faith in God is known all over the
world, and we don't have to say a thing about it. Everyone is talking
about how you welcomed us and how you turned away from idols to serve
the true and living God. They also tell how you are waiting for his
Son Jesus to come from heaven. God raised him from death, and on the
day of judgment Jesus will save us from God's anger.

Paul's Work in Thessalonica

My friends, you know that our time with you wasn't wasted. As you
remember, we had been mistreated and insulted at Philippi. But God
gave us the courage to tell you the good news about him, even though
many people caused us trouble. We didn't have any hidden motives when
we won you over, and we didn't try to fool or trick anyone. God was
pleased to trust us with his message. We didn't speak to please
people, but to please God who knows our motives. You also know that we
didn't try to flatter anyone. God himself knows that what we did
wasn't a cover-up for greed. We were not trying to get you or anyone
else to praise us. But as apostles, we could have demanded help from
you. After all, Christ is the one who sent us. We chose to be like
children or like a mother nursing her baby. We cared so much for you,
and you became so dear to us, that we were willing to give our lives
for you when we gave you God's message."

Father God, forgive my sins. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ down
to die on the cross and for shedding his blood for me. Three days
later you resurrected him. I accept that. I invite Jesus Christ into
my heart as my Lord and savior. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

God bless you.

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