You became a model to all the believers.
—1 Thessalonians 1:7
In 1 Thessalonians 1:9–10, Paul sketches a three-panel picture of authentic Christianity: “You turned to God from idols / to serve the living and true God / and to wait for his Son from heaven.”
1) a decisive turning from idols; 2) an active serving of God; 3) a patient waiting for Christ.
Idols are God-substitutes. Anything that supersedes God is an idol: sports, entertainment, job, money—fill in the blank.
Christianity calls for turning away from captivity to the old way of life and for turning to an active new way of life: serving God.
And it calls for preparing and patiently waiting for the second coming of Christ.
Note the verbs: you turned . . . to serve . . . to wait.
Abandon your idol, serve your God,
await your Savior.