February 14

Having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. - 1 Thessalonians 1:6.

THE apostle alludes to the persecutions which these primitive believers met with from Jews and heathens, and of which we have some account in the Acts of the Apostles. This magnified their reception of the gospel, for they received it when they were exposed to losses, to imprisonments, to sufferings, and even to death. We know little of persecution; none of it is sanctioned in our happy country by law: but then we well know that law cannot remove the enmity of the human heart. There are many wives, and children, and servants, and workmen, and tradesmen, who hear the word under various menaces, and some privations, and some ill treatment, as far as it can proceed without being actionable. And “the tongue can no man tame.” Reproach is a species of persecution.

The Ishmaels will ‘mock the Isaacs; and as it was then, so is it now: “he that is born after the flesh persecutes him that is born after the Spirit;” and “if any man will live godly in Christ Jesus, he shall suffer persecution.” But we must remember that there may be much affliction when there is no persecution. Oh, how many a private sufferer is there whose heart “knows his own bitterness”! Yes; there are many now who “receive the word in much affliction,” personal and relative.

Observe, they receive the word, not only “in much affliction,” but with “joy of the Holy Ghost.” Not a carnal joy, not a worldly joy, but that joy which is the fruit of the Spirit; that joy which much affliction cannot hinder,-the “joy of the Holy Ghost.”

Observe, Paul’s religion made him suffer, but it did not deprive him of pleasure; yea, he says, “I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” When he and Silas had been scourged, and thrust into the inner prison, and their feet made fast in the stocks, at midnight they not only prayed but sang praises to God in the prison. “And,” says Paul, “not only so, but we glory in tribulation also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope.”

So we see peace in the Saviour, and tribulation in the world, are very compatible with each other. There must be, therefore, something in Christianity which is very congenial with joy, otherwise these things could not be true; and they are true. It brings us “glad tidings of great joy, which are for all people.” Thus it was originally understood and embraced. The Thessalonians received the word “in much affliction,” yet with joy “in the Holy Ghost.” Ah! they were then “filled with all joy and peace in believing.”

Nor is the gospel changed; the Saviour is the same now as he was then. There is the same efficacy in his blood, and completeness in his righteousness, and power in his arm, and love in his heart. If, therefore, we do not understand and receive the truth in the same manner as the Thessalonians had received it, there must be a mistake somewhere. “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again unto the Lord.”