4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people. 5 For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. 6 So you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you. In this way, you imitated both us and the Lord. 7 As a result, you have become an example to all the believers in Greece— throughout both Macedonia and Achaia. 8 And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God … — 1 Thessalonians 1:4-8 (NLT) How we receive the truth of Jesus Christ and the power of God in our life has a lot to do with how we will present it to others. It was not mere words or emotion that convinced us to turn over lives over to Jesus Christ and become true followers. It was the drawing of the Holy Spirit that broke through our doubts and released our faith. With salvation comes joy, life, love, and hope. We are no longer doomed to be a slave to sin, but now become rightful heirs to all that God Himself has for us. Living a Christian lifestyle becomes a desire, not a burden, when you truly believe those things and know in your heart that Jesus Christ is the only way to God the Father While Matthew 28:19 tells us clearly to share the Gospel of Christ across the street and to all of the Earth, it is our desire to be imitators of the life Christ lived that allows us to passionately and relentlessly share the truth of Jesus out of love and compassion, not anger and condemnation. We as individuals have a calling from God to share the Word of God wherever we go with our words and actions. When we as a church bond together and present that love to our families and community, whether it is wholeheartedly received or not, we make a huge spiritual impact. The Church was never intended to be a building where followers of Jesus gather to honor His name a few times each week. It is who we, as Christians, are. We are the church and wherever we go truth, joy, hope and love must be spread. Go be the Church today and every day. Austin Bishop has been a professional journalist in Mississippi for more than 45 years and is an ordained Assemblies of God minister. Those wishing to receive his daily devotional/Bible study notes may sign up by texting 601-938- 2471 and asking to be added to either the morning or afternoon list.
