4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God,that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You knowhow we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.REFLECTIONSWritten by James DavidsonWhat an encouragement that what was true of the Thessalonian Christians is true of us as well. When we heard the gospel it was so much more than mere words. It was words accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit. He convicted us of its truth and our need to trust in it! That is why we believed it and accepted Jesus as Lord and our lives were turned upside down. This experience shows that we are chosen by God and loved by him as one of his chosen people.This in turn, encourages us to speak the gospel. If God is working in the other person, he will turn our words into his powerful instruments to save them! What a privilege.This passage also highlights the importance of living lives consistent with the gospel as we speak the gospel. The Thessalonians knew how Paul and his co-workers lived among them and they became imitators of them and of the Lord Jesus. Are we good models for the unbelievers around us, so that if they turn to Christ they will have in us a good model to follow? Not that we’ll be perfect, but that we’ll be striving to follow Christ.Finally notice how we can rejoice in the gospel even if we are suffering severely. We don’t rejoice in the suffering, but we rejoice in the wonderful truths of the gospel, despite our suffering. This is a supernatural joy, given by the Holy Spirit.ABOUT THE AUTHORJames is an Assistant Minister with our Bossley Park Morning Church.