THOUGHTS, December 9, 2020

                                             Devotional on I Thessalonians 1:6

"You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit."  

Think of Joseph receiving the word by way of an angel in much tribulation  with the joy of the Holy Spirit is from Luke 1:20-21, "...behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived of her is of the Holy Spirit.  And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins."

The Thessalonians received the word in much tribulation, consternation, affliction, persecution with the joy of the Holy Spirit.  Yet, as Adam Clarke says, "'With joy of the Holy Ghost.' The consolations which they received in consequence of believing in Christ more than counterbalanced all the afflictions which they suffered from their persecutors."

                                                         Mary did you know?

Back to Mary and Joseph.  The joy of their firstborn, conceived by the Holy Spirit with joy, propelled them to the temple in Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord according to the law of Moses.  "...there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him...then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God...And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, 'Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed-- and a sword will pierce even your own soul--to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.'"

In the armor of God, the sword is the Holy Spirit.  But this joy of the Lord, the birth of God's son,  would pierce Mary's very soul.  Where the joy of the Holy Spirit is, tribulation usually follows.  Remember, Caesar sought to kill the babe, and did indeed slaughter all the males under the age of two seeking to eliminate Him.  Those who hated the Christ and His disciples followed them even after they nailed Him to a cross.  Persecution still exists today and is getting worse.

The persecutors arose in Thessalonica and it is described in Acts. 17:5-6, 13ff.  "But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar...But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there likewise, agitating and stirring up the crowds."

                                   So, be imitators.  Be like Paul.  Be like Jesus. The joy is worth it.  

                                           "Who for the joy set before Him endured the cross..." 

                                                                         Hebrews 12:2

Sometimes the sword that pierces a mother's soul is cancer.  I think of our dear four year old Melly who has spreading brain tumors and has endured multiple surgeries and harsh chemo treatments.  Today, she is in the hospital with infection, hardly keeping anything down from her food tube because of an unknown infection.  In the midst of this, they found out that the tumors are still growing in spite of the best efforts of an esteemed group of specialists.  She is the picture, the epidemy of joy and tribulation, love and suffering all combined in her precious little body.  

                              Here is a seldom sung verse from, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." 

"And ye, beneath life's crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way With painful step and slow, Look up!  For glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing. Oh, rest beside the weary road And hear the angels sing."