S – …for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 

1 Thessalonians 1:9 CSB

O – Commentary:

These believers had turned to God, the only true God, from idols. This strongly suggests that many of those believers had been pagan Gentiles. The Jews, of course, abhorred idolatry. Someone has observed that humans have the freedom to choose who their master will be, but they do not have the freedom to choose no master. The Thessalonians had chosen to serve the living and true God rather than God’s creatures or satanic powers (cf. Rom. 1:18–23). The fact that God is a living Person was precious to the Jews and to Paul; this is the characteristic by which God is most often distinguished from so-called gods in the Old Testament. He is the only living God; all other gods are not alive and therefore not worthy objects of worship

 Thomas L. Constable, “1 Thessalonians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 692–693.

A – While these people chose to not serve idols that were statues or figures, we need to make the same choice for the idols we face today.  Anything that elevates itself above God in our lives is an idol.  We need to choose that God is only true God in our lives.  We can have things we enjoy and even love but not more than him.  

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one, true God.  We choose you above everything else today.  Thank you that you are “personal” in our relationship with you.  Help us to keep you first in our lives today.