1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 >
The Thessalonians became
"imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus".
Because they suffered persecution from people of their area, like how the Christians in Judea suffered persecution from Judeans.
One thing I get now is that their imitating was not only by suffering like each other. But in order to suffer persecution, first they became real in God's love so they were pleasing to our Father and therefore would draw attack from Satanic people. So, the imitation is not only in being attacked, but in how they became in their character and their stand for Jesus.
"Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12)
But I think there are people who claim to be Christians, but their identity is mainly with their religious group or their ethnic group; and such things can draw attack, though they are not truly Christian; and then this can be confused with true persecution. So, I understand there is false persecution.
According to my reading, in history there have been people who have even accepted being burned alive, in order to refuse to give up their beliefs; yet, ones burning at the stake could have exact opposite views!! So, I think we humans are capable of fooling ourselves into suffering and even dying for what is not of God.
"Test all things; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
I understand this means to make sure with God, Himself; and even in a bad situation, with God we can test for the good He has for us
And this good can be better than what we might try to do to just make the problem go away. "Our attention needs to be guided."
So, I would say Paul means the Thessalonians were being persecuted because of being right with God, and not because they were into wrong things which were bringing trouble on themselves.
Speaking of the enemy people, Paul says >
"they do not please God" (in Thessalonians 2:15).
A good thing we can see, through this, is that
we can please God.
And if we are pleasing Him, I understand this is personal . . . how we are personally relating with Him, and in the way that makes us pleasing to Him because of how we have become more and more like His Son Jesus who is so pleasing to Him. Jesus in us shares with us how He is pleasing to our Father.
So, we are not pleasing to our Father just because we have gotten saved, but in us He has worked to make us His way so He can be at home in each of us, enjoying us while dealing with all that is going on in this evil world around us.
Paul says,
"For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." (2 Corinthians 2:15)
Jesus in us (Galatians 4:19) makes us sweet-smelling to our Father. Our Father can smell how we are in our character. His love makes us more and more
"as He is" "in this world." (in 1 John 4:17)
"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)
We are pleasing to our Father, by having character which has
"the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (in 1 Peter 3:4)
And in our loving, we can be so deeply pleasing to Him > like how Jesus on Calvary was
"a sweet-smelling aroma" >
"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Ephesians 5:2)
As we go through things sweetly, we smell fragrant like Jesus to our Father; He can smell how we really are while we do things. So, if we make sacrifices in smelly stuff like stress and hurts and unforgiveness and frustration and disillusionment and criticizing others who don't join us . . . this is not what our Father wants for sacrifices.
But, yes, I need to become joyful and thankful and appreciative in things which God has us doing.