1:91 Thessalonians 1:9

The Thessalonians made a real and evident turn from idol worship to serve the living and true God, and their changed lives told what kind of work the gospel had done among them.Lt 180, 1903, par. 21–23+3 Idols are not images only but whatever rules the heart and takes God's place, from possessions and applause to self, unbelief and cherished habits, and turning from them must be decisive, complete and wholehearted.Ms 142, 1909, par. 6–8+4 That turning means leaving sin and Satan's service for God's service in true repentance and full surrender to Christ, shown in a changed character and a life shaped by Him.Lt 123, 1896, par. 3+4 Their change came through the gospel proclaimed in the Spirit's power by consecrated workers, and the same genuine turning that makes believers examples and hastens Christ's coming is needed today.Ms 204, 1903, par. 1+4

The verse describes a real and evident conversion in Thessalonica, in which the believers turned away from idols to serve the living and true God.Lt 180, 1903, par. 21–23+4 That changed allegiance was the result of the gospel proclaimed in the Holy Spirit's power, and it was a real work accomplished by the message.Ms 82, 1903, par. 11–12+2 Their changed lives made known to others what kind of reception the missionaries had received and what effect the gospel had, so that their lives became a testimony to the message.Lt 180, 1903, par. 21–23+2 This kind of witness belongs to the work of all who are truly converted, and the chapter containing the verse gives that lesson to individual church members while testifying that the apostles are laborers together with God.Lt 180, 1903, par. 21–23+1

Their conversion brought a remarkable change in their lives, and their faithful service made them examples to believers in Macedonia and Achaia.AA 256.2–3 Their faith spread the word of the Lord, won hearts, and added souls to the church.AA 256.2–3 Their turning from idols to serve the true and living God brought Paul joy and gratitude and thanksgiving to God.Lt 34, 1892, par. 23+1 That thanksgiving is echoed whenever people are brought from error into the truth to serve God with full purpose of heart.Ms 40, 1891, par. 65–69

Their former heathen beliefs about death were at first mingled with their new faith after they had turned from heathen idolatry to serve Christ.SLP 111.4–112.1 Teaching on the resurrection gave them hope that the righteous dead would rise to immortal life and be reunited with their loved ones.SLP 111.4–112.1 The same turning away from idol worship to serve the living God occurred in Corinth, where many Gentiles abandoned idols and became followers of Christ.AA 252.1 Among them were people rescued from deeply sinful lives, showing mercy and power to cleanse from sin, and the same change is illustrated by former idol worshippers who learned about Jesus, demolished their idols, and worshipped God.AA 252.1+1

Idols are whatever rules the heart, including valuable possessions and investments and anything prized that claims a person's devotion.Ms 142, 1909, par. 6–8+1 Turning from them to serve the living and true God means surrendering them and accepting divine truth, with the Spirit directing heart and mind.Ms 142, 1909, par. 6–8 That surrender can mean turning resources once held as idols toward the Lord's cause and the saving of souls, a change made evident through the Spirit's influence and good works.Ms 142, 1909, par. 6–8+1

Idolatry is more than worshiping images, for it includes giving first place to worldly possessions, human applause, self-glory, or unbelief instead of God.ST It includes the many idols that occupy the mind and harden the heart, which must be fully turned from while present opportunities to serve God are used.ST Aug 18, 1881 It includes putting human beings where God should be, when He alone is to be worshiped with Jesus Christ as the one Mediator between God and humanity.Ms 40, 1891, par. 78 It includes things people create for themselves, even old habits allowed to remain and rule the heart, and self-exalting plans and purposes that take the place of service to God.18MR 130.1+1

Turning from idols must be clear and complete rather than vague or uncertain, and not merely a profession of faith.Ms 224, 1902, par. 12–14+1 It means turning away from the idols a person loves and worships, and laying them aside thoroughly as part of embracing the truth.Lt 43, 1898, par. 16–18+1 New believers must be thoroughly taught to do this before the one who brought them to the truth leaves them.Lt 15a, 1862, par. 21–22

That decisive break is shown when former habits and worldly ways no longer shape the life, but words, actions, and character show Christ shaping the life in loyalty to God.Ms 224, 1902, par. 12–14+1 It can mean surrendering possessions and investing them in God's work.Ms 142, 1909, par. 9–12 It requires taking a decisive position for truth in full surrender to God to break the hold of idols.18MR 130.1

The verse identifies God as the only true and living God, who still lives.Lt 52, 1909, par. 7+3 To know Him is a life-and-death matter for ministers, physicians, and church members, for turning to Him means leaving idols behind to learn to know and serve Him.Lt 52, 1909, par. 7 Making Him known is part of bearing witness to Him, done by speaking of His love, mercy, and goodness so that people everywhere may learn that He alone is the true and living God.21MR 62.2+1

Turning to God is turning from sin and from serving Satan to serve the living God.Lt 123, 1896, par. 3+3 It is marked by repentance toward God that brings the sinful person to Christ in a complete change of character, turning away from idols to serve the living and true God.Lt 123, 1896, par. 3 Words about salvation should lead hearers into that same turn from sin to serve God, and seeing this need leads God's people to work earnestly for others.Ms 127, 1903, par. 14+1 Seeing sinners so converted gives reason to speak with joy, courage, life, and power, including in Sabbath meetings.Ms 127, 1903, par. 14+1

Genuine conversion is not merely professed faith but a clear, complete, and wholehearted surrender to Christ's service and loyalty to God, never vague or uncertain.Ms 224, 1902, par. 12–14+2 The change is evident when a life is no longer shaped by former habits and worldly ways and influences, but words, actions, and character show Christ shaping the life in Christlike character and service.Ms 224, 1902, par. 12–14+1 Those who make this turn can trust Him fully and find in Him what they need for Christian character and for the satisfaction of the soul's deepest hunger.Ms 63, 1898, par. 8

Serving God and waiting for His Son from heaven are natural and connected results of genuine conversion.SLP 111.1–2+1 The Thessalonians accepted the gospel by turning away from idols to serve the living and true God, and that service is joined with waiting for God's Son from heaven, whom God raised from the dead and who delivers believers from the coming wrath.SLP 111.1–2 Conversion that turns people from idols to serving the living and true God therefore looks forward to Christ's appearing.SLP 111.1–2+1

Serving the living and true God stands against false explanations of creation and of God's principles and providence that replace God with human philosophy or many gods.STE 13.1+1 Such explanations bring confusion, while recognizing God's hand brings order.STE 13.1+1 The living and true God set forth in contrast to idols is needed everywhere.STE 13.1+1

The turning at Thessalonica from idols to serve the living and true God was the evident result of the gospel proclaimed in the Holy Spirit's power.Ms 82, 1903, par. 11–12 The chapter containing this account gives a lesson to individual church members, and the apostles' writings in it testify that they are laborers together with God.Ms 204, 1903, par. 1 Their message did a real work in turning souls from idols to serve the living God.RH Nov 13, 1913+1 People are turned from idolatry to worship and serve the living God through the faithful efforts of consecrated workers.PK 171.2 As in Paul's day many must still be turned from idols, and workers are needed to proclaim the warning and labor for their salvation.Ms 82, 1903, par. 13 That turning also leads many to reject man-made institutions and take their stand on God's side and for His law.PK 171.2

The work is done when workers speak personally about salvation and make earnest appeals to accept Christ as a personal Saviour.7T 116.4–117.2+1 Words about salvation should lead hearers to turn from sin to serve the living God.Ms 122, 1902, par. 8–9 Workers are to watch constantly for opportunities to speak the truth to those who do not know it, and the number led to turn shows whether the work has reached its purpose.7T 116.4–117.2 Those who supply temporal food must also supply the bread of heaven to themselves and to those they serve.7T 116.4–117.2

Seeing sinners turned from serving Satan and from idols to serve the living God gives God's people reason to work earnestly for others.Ms 127, 1903, par. 14 The same sight gives reason to speak with joy and courage and power.Ms 127, 1903, par. 14 It gives reason to speak with joy, courage, life, and power in Sabbath meetings.9MR 92.3 Turning from idols is part of embracing the truth, and new believers must be thoroughly taught to lay aside their idols before the one who brought them to the truth leaves them.Lt 15a, 1862, par. 21–22

The call to turn from idols to serve the living and true God expresses the sacred trust given to Israel, separated from the world and made depositaries of His law to preserve among men the knowledge of Himself.ST Sep 30, 1886+3 They were to exalt His law and maintain His authority, so that the light of heaven would shine out to a world enshrouded in darkness.ST Jan 25, 1910+1 That trust meant calling all peoples away from idolatry to serve Him, that the nations could learn who He is and make the same change.ST Sep 30, 1886+1

When Israel failed in that trust, God's purpose still advanced through captivity and scattering, as His people spread knowledge of God among the nations.ST Sep 30, 1886+1 Servants such as Daniel, Nehemiah, and Ezra brought that knowledge before rulers.ST Sep 30, 1886 Thus even in failure and dispersion the scattered Israelites carried knowledge of the true God to those around them.ST Sep 30, 1886+1

Faithful Israelites openly acknowledged before the Egyptians that they served the only true and living God.SG3 240.1+1 They shared evidence of His existence and power reaching back to creation, giving the Egyptians opportunity to know their faith and God.SG3 240.1+1 They did this even as Egyptians tried to turn them from their faith.1SP 213.1

This turning from idolatry to worship and serve the living God comes through the faithful efforts of consecrated workers.PK 171.2 It also leads many to reject man-made institutions and take their stand on the side of God and for His law.PK 171.2

The turning described in the verse was a real work, evident to others in a life made a testimony to the message, and the same kind of genuine turning and service is needed today.Lt 150, 1902, par. 4–5 As in Paul's day many must still be turned from idols, and workers are needed to proclaim the warning and labor for their salvation.Ms 82, 1903, par. 13 That turning means abandoning idols to serve the living God, fully turning from the many idols that occupy the mind and harden the heart, and using present opportunities to serve Him.ST Aug 18, 1881

The conversion of the Thessalonians provides the example of the genuine change of life needed among those who hear the message of Christ's second coming, a real work accomplished by the message.10MR 383.3–4 The same real work of conversion is needed today, and the message should be given with greater earnestness because the Lord's coming is nearer.RH Nov 13, 1913+1 Living power must attend the message of Christ's second appearing, with no rest until many souls are converted to the blessed hope of His return, and by giving the gospel to the world the coming of the day of God can be hastened.RH Nov 13, 1913

The call to serve the living and true God applies to present commitment, to make a covenant with God and live a holy life now rather than postponing it.Ms 144, 1906, par. 28–29 Idolatry includes more than worshiping images, for it also includes giving first place to worldly possessions, human applause, self-glory, or unbelief instead of God.ST Professed Christians must therefore put God first in every purpose and part of life, reject sinful indulgence, and follow Christ's example in serving others.ST

Conversion means surrendering idols, which are whatever objects rule the heart, including valuable possessions and investments, and accepting divine truth with the Spirit of God directing heart and mind.Ms 142, 1909, par. 6–8 Turning from them can mean surrendering possessions and investing them in God's work, turning resources once held as idols and once ruled by self toward the Lord's cause and the saving of souls.Ms 142, 1909, par. 6–8+1 This change is made evident through the Holy Spirit's influence and the good works of believers, in evangelism and in a decisive turning expressed in serving the living and true God.Ms 142, 1909, par. 6–8+1

Serving God rather than relying on human control is the proper response to Him.9MR 176.4 Turning to the living and true God means turning away from what leads from Him and serving Him, with warning against turning from God to be taught or controlled by people.Ms 117, 1907, par. 7–8 His servants are to trust His direction and provision rather than human rule, for Christ's messengers turn away from every idol to serve the living God.Ms 117, 1907, par. 7–8+1 Failure to turn from idols of the heart, where self-exalting plans and purposes take the place of service to God, is linked to deception and misrepresentation.18MR 129.1