For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you; and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God,
to serve: This word means to serve as a slave and "emphasizes the completeness of the surrender to God (Crouch 23). Paul reminds us that "to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey..." (Romans 6:16). The first consequence of the Thessalonians turning to God was the severance of their relationship with idols and becoming obedient servants of God.