Don’t Lose Zeal for the Grace of God
“And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:” – 1 Thessalonians 1:6
One of the greatest dangers for believers walking in the grace of God is gradually losing zeal for the truth. The pressures of the world, the grind of daily life, and the constant resistance to truth, even from people you care about, can dull our sense of urgency and joy. It can cause us not to take the pressing urgency of evangelism and edification seriously. The Thessalonians, however, provide a powerful example of how to remain steadfast and full of zeal, even in hardship.
When Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, he reminded them how they “received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost” (1Th 1:6). Despite facing immediate persecution for their faith, they didn’t retreat. Instead, they became examples to other believers, boldly sounding out the word of the Lord “not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place” (1Th 1:8). They had hope that went beyond comfort in this life, hope rooted in Christ’s return and the deliverance from wrath (1Th 1:10).
Paul and Timothy were worried that they would lose hope amidst persecution or be tempted to give up (1Th 3:5). Despite their worry, they were steadfast in the faith and charitable toward one another (1Th 3:6). Their secret wasn’t willpower. It was their understanding of the gospel and their expectation of Christ’s coming. The grace of God doesn’t just free us from the law, it empowers us to walk in love, speak truth, and remain zealous for Christ even when life is hard (2Co 5:17, 1Th 2:13).
It can be hard. You get excited about the gospel and the truth of God’s grace, but then face pushback. I’ve been there myself, and maybe you’ve been there too. Once I was told by someone I cared deeply about that I should have a millstone around my neck because I preached faith alone in Christ crucified for salvation, and that water baptism isn’t necessary, nor our pattern for salvation or service to the Lord today (Mrk 9:42, 1Co 1:17). It sure isn’t fun and that kind of pushback can make it easy to get apathetic and not “rock the boat.”
However, the gospel of grace is a message that rocks the boat. It’s a message that declares no one righteous. It’s a message that declares none of our self-perceived good works can save or justify us before God, just faith alone in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. To a world that trusts in itself and its righteousness (and even Christians who succumb to the lies of self-righteous religiosity or doctrinal apathy), grace can rub people the wrong way. But we must press on: souls are at stake, and the devil isn’t passively sitting by on the sidelines (1Th 2:18).
Let this be our reminder: grace is not passive. It's not a license to coast through life unaffected by spiritual concerns. Grace is power. And our hope in Christ gives us every reason to press on with joy, truth, and boldness.
Don't lose zeal in the grace of God. Stand fast in it, rejoice in it, and let it fuel your faith, even in the face of opposition.
