1 Thessalonians 1:8: “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.”

June 30th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

The Apostle Paul complimented the believers at Thessalonica, saying they had became like a volcano, erupting God’s word across the whole map of Europe. It is interesting to note that Paul didn’t have much time to train these people before he was run out of town, after which the young church was subjected to tribulation, harassment, and strong opposition. In our modern way of church thinking, they didn’t have any of the advantages and comforts we would associate with growth and success, but they still became a model fellowship. And though it is estimated that the church was less than a year old, they had already begun to take God’s word abroad, becoming the center for the ministry of the gospel, which eventually changed the course of the history of Europe.

This should encourage and challenge all of us who desire to serve God with our lives. Are you a new believer? Don’t let that slow you down, because God uses any available vessel. It is a fact that in the kingdom of God, availability is much more critical than capability. The missionary known for bringing the gospel to China, J. Hudson Taylor, explained his success this way: “I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking Him to do His work through me.” That means, of course, that we will be forced to try things we are not good at and we will make mistakes in the process. U.S. President Abe Lincoln once famously said, “He who never makes a mistake never makes anything.”

“LORD, we desire to be useful to You today. Give us courage to try new things we’ve never done before to bring Your salvation to others.”