13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.REFLECTIONSWritten by Isobel LinWe all know bran is good. A quick Google search reveals… it’s nutrient-dense, rich in probiotics, low in saturated fats and most of all, a condensed source of soluble fibre. And the benefits of eating it regularly are amazing! But here’s the thing, for all its goodness, is anyone actually delighted to see bran in their cereal bowl? Does any café feature bran on their weekend brunch menu? No? We all know bran is good for us but…Too often, I slip into treating my Bible a bit like bran, good for me but…In today’s verse, we come to the root of Paul’s thanksgiving for the Thessalonian church – and it’s a game-changer when it comes to our attitude to the Bible. The root of Paul’s thanksgiving is all about their response to the word of God. For the Thessalonians, the word of God came to them through Paul’s preaching of the gospel.There are two reasons Paul is thankful. First, the Thessalonians recognised that the gospel he preached to them (1:5) was not just about God but from God. This is so crucial and mind-blowing! The infinite God of the universe speaks to finite humans through human words so that we can understand him. Wow! What a treasure we’ve been given!Secondly, the Thessalonians not only recognised that the gospel Paul preached was ultimately from God, but they ‘accepted’ or welcomed it, just as you would warmly usher a favourite guest into your home.And the result is that the word of God is powerfully at work in them, transforming them from idol-worshipers to model disciples of Jesus (1:8-10).Though we’re nearly two thousand years too late to hear Paul in person, we have the same gospel that Paul preached – preserved for us in the pages of our Bibles. In fact, Paul describes Scripture as God-breathed. No less the word of God, no less powerful.How would you describe your attitude to the Bible? Is it a priceless treasure? Do you eagerly welcome any opportunity to open its pages? Is it where you go, to experience God’s power in your life? Or is it a bit like a bowl of bran: good but…Talk to God now about the amazing word he has spoken to us, ask him to grow you in treasuring it, and ask him to work powerfully in all of us through it.ABOUT THE AUTHORIsobel is part of our Bossley Park Morning Church.