Deeper Reflection
PAUL CAME TO THESSALONICA TO EVANGELISE THE CITY. Then he established the new believers into and as a “church” (1 Thess 1:1), constituting of former idol-worshipers (v.9), “devout Greeks” and “leading women” (Acts 17:4). And from here was the enlarging of the borders of Paul’s ministry of the Gospel – into Macedonia and Achaia (v.7) and “everywhere” (v.8).In this enlarging is the enlarging of the Word of God. “Our gospel came to you” (v.5) was enlarged to “the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you” (v.8). We must pass on the Word of God that we are growing in to establish other believers and evangelise the unsaved. There is the enlarging of the walk with God. Having observed “what kind of men” Paul and his co-workers “proved to be among you” (v.5b), the Thessalonians “became imitators” of them (v.6), and in turn “became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia” (v.7) and their “faith has gone forth everywhere” (v.8). This enlarging of borders is fundamentally and ultimately the work of God. It is the powerful activity of the Holy Spirit through people “with full conviction” in their belief and walk with God (v.5). This enlarging movement took place in a particular life situation: “in much affliction” – but “with the joy of the Holy Spirit” (v.6). This is a way of God in His sovereign freedom and wisdom.We can echo Jabez’s prayer in this way: “Oh that You would bless me and enlarge the border of my life and ministry!” (1 Chron 4:10).