“For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NASB)
We continue to find promises that are given to us and which are coupled with our giving thanks to God. Today in our verse the Apostle Paul includes the two others in his team who came to the city from Philippi, Silas and Timothy. He expresses the reason they give thanks to God for the believers in Thessalonica. Why are they thankful? Because when the Gospel was shared by the missionaries it was the Word of God. That is just how they received and accepted the message as the Word of God. This is a second reason for Paul’s continual rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Paul expressed thankfulness not only because the fruits of righteousness apparent in the Thessalonian converts’ lives, but also their ready acceptance. Their reception of the preached Word of God warmed the apostles’ hearts. We know this word if we have believed and received Christ Jesus’ invitation. While a good number of the converts were Jews the greater number were Greeks or Gentiles. It was these non-Jews who became believers of God and received Jesus as their Savior. The “we also constantly” is the same as our instruction to “pray without ceasing.”
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