“The Make-Over”
• (1 Thess. 1:4-10)

People today seem to love watching makeovers. From morning talk shows where homely moms become beauty models to “Extreme Makeover” where houses are dramatically redone, people are glued to their TVs waiting to see the befores and afters of homes, hair dos, and even body sizes! In a similar way, Paul was excited about the Thessalonians’ spiritual makeover. The people of that church went from worshipping idols to worshipping God. Their transformation was so dramatic that the whole region was talking about it. But it wasn’t Paul who performed this makeover on the Thessalonians; it was the Holy Spirit.

The same Holy Spirit can and will transform you and me—not on the outside, but on the inside where things matter for eternity. It is not merely a mystical realization of inner peace; rather, the Spirit of God takes people whose priorities and security are in the wrong things and He brings them into focus on Himself. This transformation starts on the inside and then shows up on the outside, just like with the Thessalonians: they were changed on the inside by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the whole region observed the marks of that change on the outside.

Not so long ago, Brian “Head” Welch was touring the USA as a heavy metal superstar. Then, in a shocking turnaround, this multimillionaire, award-winning rocker, and drug addict turned his life over to Jesus. Now his two primary concerns include being a loving father and sharing the Gospel with his friends still in the entertainment industry. What a before and after!

Think it over: Is there evidence of a Holy Spirit makeover in your life? Are you experiencing inner changes that produce outer effects? Consider your priorities and securities to see if you are joining the Thessalonians in turning from earthly things and worshipping God.