I Thessalonians 2:13 “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”
The Apostle Paul declares a true Pastor’s Delight; telling us that “the word of God” had been preached to the Church at Thessalonica and they had both received it and acted upon it. Paul was complementing the Church, but he fully realized that the root cause of such a great blessing was above them all; thus, he proclaimed, “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing”! The Church had “received the word of God which” they had “heard” them preach and teach; that is, it is clear that they had gone to Church, and listened carefully to the preached Word, had prayerfully meditated upon the Word, and had joyfully understood and believed the Word. By the Spirit of God working in them, they “received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God”; thus, this blessed “word” had more weight, more value, more credibility, and more urgency for action than any other communication known to man. The Spirit of God was powerfully working in both the preachers and the hearers; thus, empowering this blessed and most Holy “word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe”. It is important to note the order of things here, this Holy “word” worked in the Children of God “that believe”; that is, they were already in a state of belief in God, they were already “born again” (John 3:1-8). The preached “word” didn’t give them Spiritual Life, they already had it! The message to us is to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, go to Church, actively hear the preached “word of God”, meditate upon the “word of God”, and do those blessed things that the “word of God” teaches us to do! Said another way, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22). When a Church is hearing and doing “the word of God”, there is great joy, even in the most troubled times. This loving joy reaches out and touches the hearts of others and draws them, for this loving joy is the heart’s desire of “the flock of God” (I Peter 5:2)!