one step: 1 Thessalonians 2.1

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-2

As mentioned, the Church in Thessalonica faced persecution. Surrounded by idolatry and cultures from which they turned away, Paul praised the Church in Thessalonica for staying true to their faith and representing Christ well (see One Step Daily Devotionals for 1 Thessalonians 1).

In 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2, Paul tells the Church that he, Silas, and Timothy shared the Gospel boldly in Thessalonica despite their suffering in Philippi. It’s easy to skip over verses that we don’t understand. A verse like this can be interesting to read, but cause little pause or thought. With a little context, however, we realize that there’s a lot more that we can appreciate in what Paul and his team overcame.

The persecution that Paul refers to in Philippi is recounted in Acts 16.* In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were on their way to a place of prayer when they ran into a woman in need of freedom and deliverance. Naturally, they set the woman free (They’re nice guys, but honestly, the evil spirit inside of her was taunting them for many days, and they had enough). The men who used her demonic ability to tell the future for financial gain lost their business in this freedom-act, so they drug them to the public square for an on-the-spot trial. Without even a trial (which Roman citizens like Paul were due), Paul and Silas were stripped naked in public, beaten severely, and thrown into prison. The trauma, injustice, and shame were indescribable!

The modern day version of being falsely accused, stripped naked, beaten within an inch of your life, and then imprisoned all all while in the public square during the time of Paul and Silas would be like all of these things happening to someone on social media today for all to see.

I cannot even imagine.

Now, the story ends well as God sets Paul and Silas free (you should read it; it’s incredible), but Paul points out: despite all of that, they shared the Gospel boldly in Thessalonica (a place where their experience in Philippi could very well have been repeated). Surely, in Thessalonica, they would shrink back, be more careful, or attempt to be sensitive to the cultural climate into which they were stepping? Nope. They preached boldly. That’s amazing!

How many times have you felt the tug of the Holy Spirit or been invited to share your faith? Did you allow past experiences to stop you or slow you down? Did a fear of “what could happen” stop you from obeying God? Has the fear of the rejection of people prevented you from living a life that brings Him glory in all that you do?

Paul and Silas challenge me. They inspire me. The humble me. I am not confident that I would respond to their situation in the same way if it happened to me. As the phrase “the gospel of God” as well as the subsequent verses clue us, Paul and Silas did not work in their own strength and power, but by the power of God at work inside of them. I pray that I allow God to work similarly in me.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to receive HIs power to be a witness. Perhaps today God wants to show You His redemptive work in your life by calling you to minister in places similar to ones in which you have been hurt before. Maybe today God is calling you to set others free no matter the cost. Perhaps today God wants you to take a step toward singing His praises even in the prisons of life (see Acts 16:25-26).

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Holmes, M. (1998). 1 and 2 Thessalonians (pp. 61–62). Zondervan Publishing House.
Shogren, G. S. (2012). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (pp. 90–96). Zondervan.
Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (pp. 114–117). W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
Kim, S., & Bruce, F. F. (2023). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (D. B. Capes, Ed.; Second Edition, Vol. 45, pp. 190–194). Zondervan Academic.
Morris, L. (1984). 1 and 2 Thessalonians: An introduction and commentary (Vol. 13, pp. 51–53). InterVarsity Press.
Beale, G. K. (2003). 1–2 Thessalonians (pp. 63–65). InterVarsity Press.
Weima, J. A. D. (2014). Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1–2 Thessalonians (R. W. Yarbrough & R. H. Stein, Eds.; pp. 130–133). Baker Academic.

one step: 1 Thessalonians 1.3

For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10

The conversion of those in Thessalonica was no small thing.* Their conversion included three steps:*

1. turning to God

2. turning away from idols

3. waiting for His Son from heaven.

These steps remind us that turning to God involves recognizing that He is true and living.* This was in stark contrast to the prevailing idol-worshiping culture that surrounded the Christians of Thessalonica.* To confess that God was true and living was to say that all others were false and dead.* This flew in the face of a polytheistic, pagan culture that worshipped many “gods".”

Furthermore, there is no turning from idols without turning toward God.* Both are necessary, and both occurred in the Church of Thessalonica. The Church in Thessalonica was not mixing their belief in God with other beliefs, nor were they attempting to make God just another one of their deities to worship.* They were forsaking all other idols and ways of thinking to follow God.*

Lastly, their conversion demonstrates a following of Jesus that impacts today and tomorrow.* Meaning, their faith was not only believed to impact their future, but it influenced their day-to-day life.* Not only did it influence their day-to-day life, but they stood on the reality of their one-day-returning King.*

These powerful points demonstrate for us how to posture ourselves in our culture that calls us to serve (worship) so many other people and things. but there is more to this story that we must not miss.

The decision to follow God and God alone was not a private one. Within Thessalonica, unlike our society today, faith wasn’t seen as a personal matter that could be avoided in daily conversations and life. In the time of Paul, faith in Thessalonica was a social and political construct.* One’s faith determined the events one attended as a part of a family that was a part of the Thessalonian community.* To abandon idol worship for the worship of the One True God was to remove oneself from family and social activities.* In addition, political power and influence was greatly influenced by what idols one served.* To give up religious attachments could equate to giving up social and political status.* Scholars believe that this kind of detachment from society and attachment to God could have been the source of the persecution that they endured.*

What does this mean for us? Following Christ is a call to abandon all else. Christ is not a dish on a plate of possibilities; He is the One True God. All else should be given up with the understanding that He calls us to live for Him today, and that He will return for us in some tomorrow. In our society, the pressure exists to accept all beliefs and all ways of thinking as equal. In our world today, it’s easy to feel the pressure to allow faith to be for “one day when I die,” or for “one day when Jesus returns.” God calls us to a “today” faith with “tomorrow” perspective that is 100% sold out for Him.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to stop serving anything other than God. Perhaps today God wants you to graduate from a religion that is only socially or politically minded. Maybe today God wants you to wait for the return of Christ with an expectancy that leads to holy living today.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Holmes, M. (1998). 1 and 2 Thessalonians (p. 52). Zondervan Publishing House.
Shogren, G. S. (2012). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (pp. 72–75). Zondervan.
Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (pp. 105–108). W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
Kim, S., & Bruce, F. F. (2023). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (D. B. Capes, Ed.; Second Edition, Vol. 45, pp. 168–170). Zondervan Academic.
Morris, L. (1984). 1 and 2 Thessalonians: An introduction and commentary (Vol. 13, pp. 47–48). InterVarsity Press.
Beale, G. K. (2003). 1–2 Thessalonians (pp. 60–62). InterVarsity Press.
Weima, J. A. D. (2014). Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1–2 Thessalonians (R. W. Yarbrough & R. H. Stein, Eds.; pp. 106–109). Baker Academic.

one step: water break

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Psalm 46:10

The One Step Daily Devotional is intended to provide just one step each day for your journey with God. Every journey requires water breaks. Here is a water break for you.

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Psalm 46:10 invites us to be still, cease striving, or stop. The question is, “stop what?”

We live in a busy society, yes, but the psalmist did not write this psalm to a busy people. If not written to especially busy people, who then does the psalmist write?

While being still or engaging in silence can serve as spiritual practices that may dislodge us from a bewildering pace of rush and anxiety long enough to hear God and be ministered to by Him, this is not exactly what the writer had in mind.* The writer of this psalm spoke in Psalm 46 to a superpower nation intent upon establishing their own peace through war.*

God had other plans. While countries attempt to become sovereign over others, God establishes Himself as Sovereign over all.* Through His mighty acts, God will transform all nations into instruments of His own exaltation.*

What will it take for God to establish Himself above all? The nation in question had to stop trying to elevate themself.*

In this life, we can feel that we must work, manipulate, and win our way into the place of God. There can be many reasons and ways that we do this, but sometimes we find ourselves attempting to exalt ourselves over others because we are seeking safety, peace, stability, or “the good life.” The issue with this is that we cannot give ourselves safety, peace, stability, or “the good life.” When we attempt to, we are trying to replace God because we are trying to provide for ourselves only what God can provide.

God says, “Stop it. I am God, I will not elevate you, but I will elevate myself above all. Want to see it? Just stop your efforts to win. I win.”

The best thing about God winning is that when He wins we win too.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to pull in a deep breath and stop it. Perhaps today God would have you stop striving to be enough, do enough, or feel enough. Maybe today God doesn’t want you to win the battle in your life, but He wants you to see that He is the winner in your story... and that makes you a winner too.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a water break… we all get thirsty.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Goldingay, J. (2006). Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Psalms 42–89 (T. Longman III, Ed.; Vol. 2, pp. 72–73). Baker Academic.
Wilson, G. H. (2002). Psalms (Vol. 1, pp. 718–719). Zondervan.
VanGemeren, W. A. (2008). Psalms. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms (Revised Edition) (Vol. 5, p. 407). Zondervan.
Craigie, P. C. (2004). Psalms 1–50 (2nd ed., Vol. 19, p. 345). Nelson Reference & Electronic.

one step: 1 Thessalonians 1.2

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5

The Gospel is the good news that Jesus, the completely unique and only Son of God came into this world to take away the sin of the world by living a perfect life, dying on the cross in our place and for the payment of our sin, and rose again to newness of life on the third day. This great act, being good news for our relationship with God was ultimately good news for all of creation as it ushered in God’s Kingdom here on Earth as it is in Heaven. It initiated the return of the Kingdom reign and rules of God, allowing us to begin to escape our slavery to law and sin.

This Gospel consists of great words, but it’s more than that, isn’t it? The Gospel isn’t just words to be spoken; it’s not just a compelling story capable of evoking emotions from the hearer. No, the Gospel is more than that: the Gospel is power.*

The power of the Gospel clued Paul to the genuine salvation and faith of the Church in Thessalonica.* Interestingly, while the Church in Thessalonica withstood persecution and held onto their faith, hope, and love, the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives through the evidence of their growth and response to the Gospel is what showed Paul that their salvation was true.* The Gospel is power and it transforms.

In discussing these couple of verses, many engage in debate as to the nature of the election to which Paul refers.* Paul’s intent in these verses, however, is not to debate election.* His intent is to express gratitude to God for and encourage the embattled church in Thessalonica.* Paul is excited that the Gospel he preached was received in such a way that miracles happened and conviction came!* The nature of their reception of the Gospel was evidence of their election by God.*

Paul reminds us with his words that salvation is the work of God in our lives; we cannot make salvation happen, though we can see its fruit in our lives.*

As a reminder, John 3:16 (emphasis added) tells us,

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

2 Peter 3:9 (emphasis added) also states,

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

God selected everyone. He elected you and He elected me. We must then choose to submit to Jesus unto salvation. How do we know if our choice was genuine? We will see fruit: the power of the Holy Spirit at work and His gentle conviction.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to celebrate the convicting work and displays of the Holy Spirit’s power in your life. Perhaps today there is a group of Jesus-followers that you should encourage. Maybe today God wants to remind you that He chose you and that your salvation depends solely upon Him.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Holmes, M. (1998). 1 and 2 Thessalonians (pp. 48–50). Zondervan Publishing House.
Shogren, G. S. (2012). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (pp. 61–66). Zondervan.
Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (pp. 91–97). W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
Kim, S., & Bruce, F. F. (2023). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (D. B. Capes, Ed.; Second Edition, Vol. 45, pp. 148–156). Zondervan Academic.
Morris, L. (1984). 1 and 2 Thessalonians: An introduction and commentary (Vol. 13, pp. 45–46). InterVarsity Press.
Beale, G. K. (2003). 1–2 Thessalonians (pp. 49–53). InterVarsity Press.
Weima, J. A. D. (2014). Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1–2 Thessalonians (R. W. Yarbrough & R. H. Stein, Eds.; pp. 89–92). Baker Academic.

one step: 1 Thessalonians 1.1

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3

What difficulties have your friends been through? What are they going through now? Life is hard, as we all know, and it’s easy to miss that there are a lot of amazing people out there.

The church in Thessalonica during the time of Paul was riddled with persecution.* The largest and most important city of Macedonia at the time, its diverse population consisted of Greeks, Romans, Jews, and Christians.* This diverse population likely created a diverse church.* Though the exact persecutions and their sources are unknown, we do know from context that they endured persecution, ostracism, and hardship.* Perhaps their persecution came from the communities they left to follow Christ (Greek, Roman, Jewish communities).

How did the church in Thessalonica respond? They responded by representing Christ well. Though times were hard for the church, Paul noticed that they lived lives of the faith, hope, and love.* Faith, hope, and love appear many times in Scripture (Romans 5:2–5; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Galatians 5:5–6; Colossians 1:4–5; Hebrews 6:10–12; 10:22–24; 1 Peter 1:21–22).* Some argue that the qualities of faith, hope, and love are the qualities of a good Christian.*

Paul states in this verse that he prays constantly for them and thanks God for them. He doesn’t stop with prayer, however. Paul goes a step further and tells them how he feels by writing this letter!

When was the last time you prayed continuously (consistently and passionately) for a friend, giving thanks to God for them? When was the last time you told a friend how you really feel about them?

I recently had a friend come to my home for a visit. They looked me in the eye and told me the good qualities of the Lord that they saw in me. I needed to hear it. I needed the encouragement. Sure, I need all the prayers that my friend prays without me knowing about them, but knowing that he prays and knowing why he prays means a lot.

I’m grateful for my friend and his family. They are full of faith, hope, and love, despite the difficulties that they have been through. I aspire to pray for them even more consistently and passionately.

The more I think about the people I love and the more I think about their hearts for Christ, I’m grateful. I’m grateful for who they are and for all of the times that they have encouraged me.

Today, take a step.

Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to pray for a friend. Perhaps God wants you to walk in gratitude for the Godly people He placed in your life. Perhaps it’s time to tell the people you love and are grateful for that you are grateful for them and are praying for them.

Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.

Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.

Feel free to comment at the bottom of this page! We would love to hear from you!

*Holmes, M. (1998). 1 and 2 Thessalonians (pp. 48–49). Zondervan Publishing House.
Shogren, G. S. (2012). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (pp. 56–60). Zondervan.
Green, G. L. (2002). The letters to the Thessalonians (pp. 87–91). W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
Kim, S., & Bruce, F. F. (2023). 1 & 2 Thessalonians (D. B. Capes, Ed.; Second Edition, Vol. 45, pp. 141–148). Zondervan Academic.
Morris, L. (1984). 1 and 2 Thessalonians: An introduction and commentary (Vol. 13, pp. 43–45). InterVarsity Press.
Beale, G. K. (2003). 1–2 Thessalonians (pp. 45–49). InterVarsity Press.
Weima, J. A. D. (2014). Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament: 1–2 Thessalonians (R. W. Yarbrough & R. H. Stein, Eds.; pp. 81–89). Baker Academic.
Guyer, M. S. (2016). Thessalonian. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, L. Wentz, E. Ritzema, & W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Lexham Press.