1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God…

News of the Thessalonian church had spread throughout their entire region. Their faith, and their good deeds motivated by that faith, left a favorable impression on their neighborhoods, city, and surrounding areas. People from other parts of the world were commenting on how the Thessalonian church was both speaking and living the message of Christ.

This message of Christ was shown by the Thessalonian believers as they “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” Within this phrase are three distinct actions that work together to demonstrate a life that follows Christ. Likewise, we must also display these traits if we are to show others the power of new life in Christ at work in us.

But while the actions are distinct, they are not meant to be separate. While we will first consider what it means to “turn to God,” it is inaccurate to think of this act of turning to God in a manner that does not also incorporate turning from something (namely, idols). If a person turns to their right, are they not also turning from their left?

God's Word also refers to the act of turning from sin to the righteousness of Christ by another name: repentance. The very word carries the meaning of a change of heart. Far from simply modifying behavior or showing outward remorse, true repentance comes from a Godly sorrow. "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death." [2 Corinthians 7:10] Repentance agrees with God's assessment of our sin and trusts in His ability to free us from our slavery to it.

When we turn to God, we pledge the totality of our faith, hope, love, and devotion to Him and Him alone. We believe that Christ's death was necessary to atone for our sin, and that it was effective in it's work, as well as sufficient. In other words: only Jesus saves. His perfect life and horrific death were necessary. His sinless life and sinner's death were successful. His righteous life and humiliating death are all we will ever need to be assured of salvation. Christ and Christ alone.

Turning to God is much like finding ourselves in a situation similar to the apostle Peter as he attempted to walk on the water to Christ. Distracted by the stormy waters, Peter began sinking into the waves. In his distress, he called out for help and "Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him" [Matthew 15:31]. My friends, if we would but turn to God, we would find this same help waiting for us, and we would find it immediately, for "you will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord..." [Jeremiah 29:13].