“You turned to God from idols …” (1 v.9)
As said previously, when we receive the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit, the effects are dramatic. Verse 9 identifies another effect. Quite spontaneously, without the need to labour the point, one effect is to make the one who receives the gospel to turn to God and leave all forms of idolatry. Note the order. First, this gospel, in the power of the Holy Spirit, turns people to God. Again, this is not just mental assent; it is a turning of the entire being and personality toward God. The person becomes God conscious in a way they never were before. Realising how infinitely better it is to know God than anything else, the second part of the process comes into play, that is, they turn away from everything else. Every sin, affection, fear and doubt; this gospel has the power to release us form every other claim on our lives. The end result is that instead of serving and spending our time (and money) on other things, we now become occupied in serving and worshipping the living and true God. This is true repentance. Has the gospel made a similar impact upon you as it did to those believers back in Thessalonica?
PRAYER :- “Lord, help me to see that You are incomparable to everything else that claims my attention.”