Daily Devotional for Monday, May 6

The Thessalonian’s Testimony

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth,” 2 Thessalonians 1:3.

Have you ever noticed that there are two kinds of people during a crisis? First there is a person who completely falls apart as soon as the trouble starts. Second, there is the person who is “cool as a cucumber.” This person acts as if there is no crisis at all and almost seems to be carrying on as usual. Which person do you want to be in a crisis? I am a nurse, and I can tell you that the person I want to be with in a medical emergency is the cool one. The person I want to be is the cool one.

Guess what? God also likes the cool ones. We can glean from Paul’s writing in the Thessalonian epistles that this church had experienced some persecution over time; Paul references that several times. He usually encouraged believers in the proper response to persecution. Paul commended some believers for their behavior in response to it. I have often said there are no idle words in God’s Word; every word has a message and application for us today. The believers Paul wrote to here were cool in the crisis. God was pleased by this and inspired Paul to commend them.

Your testimony when others trouble you will show. How will you respond? Will you strike back and return evil for evil and tarnish God’s name? Or will you stick to the gospel mission, respond with love and the message of salvation in Jesus Christ, and bring honor to the God who loves you?

JUST A THOUGHT
When persecution comes, will you rise to the occasion by the power of the Holy Spirit, or will you fall away in self-reliance?

Wally Fry