When Paul first went to the region of Macedonia, he was seriously opposed, and yet it is clear that the pocket of believers who rose up in Thessalonica were very serious about their faith. "You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia." When you consider that most of Paul's letters address the church's sinfulness, it is quite refreshing to see that the believers in Thessalonica seem, at least based on this letter, to be stalwarts of faith. People like that are certainly necessary for the health of the church. When so many Christians seem to be limping along in their faith, I wonder if it is often for lack of proper examples. Of the Thessalonians, Paul says, "Not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything." And again, "You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God."