A small brown rock sits on my desk amid other sentimental stuff—wind-up clacking teeth, a challenge coin from a police department I served as chaplain, a tiny carved wooden elephant from Nigeria. The unassuming rock has a word etched on one side—gozo, a Spanish word translated as “joy.” The rock reminds me of a lesson learned in a caring, multiethnic community. Joy.
“You received the word with joy.” Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy commend that first-century community for the way they’ve received the message of the gospel. They’ve imitated the ways of Paul and his companions—and, even more importantly, they’ve become imitators of Jesus Christ.
Thessalonica, the capital city of the Macedonian region, boasted a city of more than two hundred thousand people—Greeks, Romans, and Jews. It was a regional hub because of its hot springs. As a naval station, prominently situated along a military highway, it was a wealthy city, a center of commerce, but one known for cult worship and licentious behavior.
The Thessalonians receive the word with joy and not only imitate Paul and his companions but turn “to serve a living and true God.” They move their faith from head to heart to hands and become missionaries themselves. Paul states, “You became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” The rapid growth of the Thessalonian church and its commitment leads to the persecution of the emerging religious community.
Even so, the Thessalonians “received the word with joy.” Perhaps it’s precisely when times are most difficult that we can discover or rediscover our solid foundation in joy. That little brown rock on my desk reminds me of this every day!