Bible Study
September 9, 2025 (CSB)
1 Thessalonians 1:9 -10 (CSB)
“What is Turning?
“For they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”
The scriptures teach us that turning is repentance. Paul calls it turning in our scripture for today. I remember while attending church at Cornerstone in Ohio that Pastor Jeff used a simple illustration of what turning meant. He walked across the front of the church made a one-hundred and eighty degree turn and said that is it – you turn around from where you are going to where you need to go.
Paul found the Thessalonians involved in idol worship. Now we may say I do not worship idols but is there something in your life that keeps you from a total commitment to God? We do not like to admit there could be something that hinders us. We all should examine our lives to ascertain if there is anything interfering.
The Thessalonians abandoned their idol worship and turned to the one true God. He admonished them to “wait.” Paul wrote of this over and over in this Epistle. Some scholars refer to it as the current distress that we face but it seems as though Paul is speaking of the eternal wrath that will be encountered by those rejecting Jesus.
Eternal punishment will come to those who say “No” to Jesus’ offer of salvation. They either cannot give up what they are doing (idol worship can be anything) or cannot come to grips with saying “I repent” I am willing (with Good’s help) to turn from where I was headed to where I want to go. A decision can change eternity. Make the decision today to turn around and walk across the front of the church in different direction. If you have questions please send me a message so we can talk.
God Bless.
Asbury Chapel 