Heralds Digest

"For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." (1 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV) It takes the inspiration of God for the word of men to be transformed to the word of God. Otherwise, the most refined words of men are generally subjective and motivated toward the fulfillment of human agenda. When supplication for grace to effectively prosecute divine agenda supersedes man's selfish desires, the inspiration of God upon every word of men become evident. Only the inspired word can expose the corruption in the heart for cleansing by the power of conversion at the cross.

"For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans." (1 Thessalonians 2:14 NKJV) Unless its surfaces are blurred, a good mirror reflects a perfect imitation of all incident images. Being made in God's images, the original intention is the reflection of God's character, which is holiness. The natural accomplice of holiness in an unholy world is persecution; to the end that suffering for righteousness becomes the natural evidence of godliness. How grateful to God was Apostle Paul to see the imitation of the same suffering in the Thessalonian's relationship with their countrymen. A righteous reflection hold nothing back in the resemblance of Christ's true character, especially in times of intense persecution.