August 17 2026

August 17 Monday

1 Thessalonians 1:9

Turning From Idols

Welcome to Pastor’s Chat. Today we continue our journey through 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, and we come to verse 9.  Paul writes: “For they themselves showed of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” Yesterday, in verse 8, we saw how the Word of the Lord “sounded out” from these believers throughout Macedonia and Achaia. Their testimony had become so well known that Paul said, “we need not to speak anything.” Now in verse 9, Paul tells us what people were saying about them. They were talking about the tremendous change that had taken place in the lives of these Thessalonian believers.

Paul describes their conversion with three simple words: “turned to God.” I think it is important to notice the order. Paul does not say they first cleaned up their lives, got rid of all their idols, and then came to God. He says they “turned to God from idols.” They turned to God, and when they did, they were able to turn from their idols. My friend, that is what genuine salvation does. Christianity is not simply trying to make ourselves better. It is not merely giving up a few bad habits or attempting to live a more moral life. Salvation begins when, by faith, we turn to the Lord Jesus Christ. When we truly turn to Him, something begins to change within us.

Remember that Thessalonica was a pagan city. Idolatry was everywhere. These people had grown up worshiping false gods and participating in pagan religious practices. Their idols were not merely decorations sitting on a shelf. Idolatry was woven into their culture, their families, their social lives, and even their businesses. So when these people turned to Jesus Christ, it cost them something. They were leaving behind a way of life they had known for years. Yet they discovered something far greater than the idols they left behind.

Paul says they turned “to serve the living and true God.” I love those words: “the living and true God.” Their idols were dead. Their idols could not hear them. Their idols could not answer their prayers. Their idols could not forgive their sins. Their idols could not give them eternal life. Notice how Psalm 115:4-8 describes the idols of the world. “Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.” 

But now the believers at Thessalonica had met the living God! And they had discovered the true God. We might look at this verse today and say, “Well, I don't have any idols. I don't bow down before a statue or worship an image.” But an idol can be anything that takes the place in our lives that belongs to God. An idol can be money. It can be possessions. It can be pleasure. It can be a career. It can be another person. It can even be our own plans, ambitions, or desires. Anything that becomes more important to us than God has the potential to become an idol. The question is not simply, “Do I have a statue that I worship?” The better question might be, “What has first place in my life?” Jesus said in Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Notice also that these Thessalonians did not simply turn from something; they turned to Someone. Sometimes we think the Christian life is mostly about what we give up. But Christianity is really about Who we receive. We turn from the emptiness of this world to the fullness of Jesus Christ. We turn from darkness to light. We turn from bondage to freedom. We turn from death to life. And then Paul says that they turned to God “to serve” Him. Their conversion produced a new purpose for living. Before, they had served their idols. Now they served the living and true God. That word “serve” carries the idea of serving as a bondservant—belonging completely to another. That is a beautiful picture of the Christian life. We have been saved by grace, and because we belong to Jesus Christ, we now desire to live for Him. We don't serve Him in order to be saved. We serve Him because we have been saved.

That takes us back to verse 3 and their “work of faith, and labor of love.” Their service was evidence that something real had happened in their hearts. And my friend, that should cause each of us to examine our own lives today. What have we turned from? What have we turned to? And whom are we serving? The Thessalonians had a testimony that everyone could see. They had turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God. May that be our testimony too. And tomorrow, in verse 10, we will see one more evidence of their changed lives. They were not only serving the Lord—they were waiting for His Son from heaven.

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the living and true God. Thank You for loving us and sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins. Lord, search our hearts today. Show us if there is anything in our lives that has taken the place that belongs only to You. Help us to turn away from anything that keeps us from loving You and serving You with our whole heart. Thank You that we do not serve You in order to earn our salvation, but because You have already saved us by Your wonderful grace. Help us today to put You first in everything we do, and may our lives be a testimony to others that we belong to the living and true God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

God bless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!