8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place the news of your faith toward God has gone out, so that we have no need to say anything. 9 For they themselves report about us as to the kind of reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is, Jesus who rescues us from the wrath to come.
I included this passage on my eschatology blog because of the last verse that talks about 'the wrath to come'. The writer at bibleref.com says that not only does this wrath point to the Great Tribulation referred to in Revelation, but also to the wrath of God that will come on all that don't accept Christ as savior and walk in obedience to his teachings; the writer underscores this point by referencing John 3:36, which says: "The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
When I looked for information on these verses I found that the converts in Thessalonica had been worshiping Roman, Greek, and even Egyptian gods. Paul's praise of them for turning from idolatry is an opportunity for us to look to our own lives for instances of idol worship. Even though we may not be bowing down to enormous sculptures or casting spells or praying to pagan idols, there are many other ways we can let other things get between our relationship with God and Christ. Greed, lust, vanity, human esteem, academic and professional achievement and so on are all areas we can stumble in if we put our energy into valuing these things above spreading the Good News about Salvation through Christ and doing our part to participate in the Great Commission in whatever way that we feel Christ has moved us to.
If you want to accept Salvation from Christ here are some resources:
A Prayer for Salvation from Christ:
Lord Jesus, I confess my sins and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Take complete control of my life and help me to walk in Your footsteps daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for saving me and for answering my prayer.
A more detailed step by step process:
https://www.wikihow.com/Accept-Jesus-Into-Your-Life
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