ID: IMAGO DEI – A Study in the book of 1 Thessalonians Week 2: FAITH

Pretend that you are travelling alone through a vast desert and have been for a while. You are weary and weak, and your canteen is empty. When you come across the strangest sight: there is a water pump standing alone in the desert and tied to it is a handwritten sign that reads "I have buried a bottle of water right here in the sand. The purpose of the water is to prime the pump. There’s just enough water to get the pump working properly, so do not drink any of it."

"To get the pump working, pour in half the water to wet the leather, wait about a minute, then pour in the rest. Then pump. The well has never gone dry, but the pump must be primed to bring the water up. You just gotta trust. When you are through drawing water, fill the bottle and bury it in the sand for the next traveler.”

So – here’s the question… you’re tired and thirsty and out of water. You see this water pump and this sign… you dig up the bottle of water that was buried there… so what would you do?

Risky, isn’t it?

Folks, that’s really what FAITH is all about. FAITH is a fancy word that gets tossed around a lot. It is used to describe one’s religion. It is used to define our acceptance of the reality of a Supreme Being. BUT according to scripture, FAITH really embraces a risk in something that claims can save you.

This is our second week looking at the writings of Paul to the church in Thessalonika – the first letters we have on record of Paul having written to the churches. Last week we looked at the foundation of the letters as Paul was celebrating the way that the Thessalonian believers were living out the IMAGE OF GOD, or as the Latin phrases it, the IMAGO DEI.

We saw last week how if we as a church are going to have an eternal impact in our community and in this world, we must be committed to show GOD’S image to the world, relying on HIS power to do the works HE has planned for us to do.

This can get complicated, though; because I’ve seen many churches fall into the sin of pride when they are doing good things…for they never truly do those things to display the glory of God. It’s too easy to think too highly of our own efforts in being a great church.

Today we’re going to be looking at the first characteristic of the Thessalonian church that Paul commends; and it’s all about their FAITH that is focused on the RIGHT PLACE.