1 Thessalonians 3
Daily Bread
1 Thessalonians 3
1So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. 4In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
Timothy's Encouraging Report
6But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
Observation:
In this case, both Paul and the Thessalonians are undergoing persecution and trials for their faith. Paul is just as concerned about the church at Thessalonica, as he is own for his own situation in Athens. Paul sends Timothy to find out how they are doing and also to assure them and also encourage them.
When Timothy returns it is of great encouragement to Paul that the Thessalonians are standing firm in their faith, and this in turn gives him strength to stay firm in what they are going through. We see a principle here. As we suffer, we are greatly strengthened by others who are going through the same thing and share in our trials.
Paul also points out that this is a time when the tempter (the devil) tries to exacerbate our situation and try and make us lose faith. That is Paul’s biggest concern that this trial would cause them to lose their faith. To Paul this was of ultimate importance that they stand firm in their faith.
Application:
When we go through struggles and trials, our temptation is to isolate or not share what we are going through. This is playing right into the “tempter’s” hands. As we share our burdens with other and also help them bear theirs, we fulfill the law of love. There is a power in knowing someone else is going through something similar as you are and that they are also holding on to the same faith that you are.
Those who have gone through severe suffering throughout history, have been able to endure immense amounts of it if they have others who can walk through the valley with them. But when people are isolated from the power of Christian community and the fellowship of sharing in the suffering, they are in a perilous predicament.
That is why it is important for the Christian church to suffer with those suffer, even if those suffering are not from your same faith tradition. It doesn’t matter. When one part of the body suffers, we all suffer. There is one body of Christ. We are all part of that one body.
Who do you know who is suffering in the body of Christ either near you or far from you? How can you help bear their burdens? As we help and encourage others in their suffering, we too can count on those around us when our time of trial comes!
Prayer: God help us to bear each other burdens. We know there is immense encouragement when we walk along side a brother or sister going through a tough trial. We pray for all Christians who are being persecuted for their faith right now. Give them your supernatural strength and encouragement. Do not let the tempter discourage them to the point of losing faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
1 Thessalonians 3
1So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. 4In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
Timothy's Encouraging Report
6But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
Observation:
In this case, both Paul and the Thessalonians are undergoing persecution and trials for their faith. Paul is just as concerned about the church at Thessalonica, as he is own for his own situation in Athens. Paul sends Timothy to find out how they are doing and also to assure them and also encourage them.
When Timothy returns it is of great encouragement to Paul that the Thessalonians are standing firm in their faith, and this in turn gives him strength to stay firm in what they are going through. We see a principle here. As we suffer, we are greatly strengthened by others who are going through the same thing and share in our trials.
Paul also points out that this is a time when the tempter (the devil) tries to exacerbate our situation and try and make us lose faith. That is Paul’s biggest concern that this trial would cause them to lose their faith. To Paul this was of ultimate importance that they stand firm in their faith.
Application:
When we go through struggles and trials, our temptation is to isolate or not share what we are going through. This is playing right into the “tempter’s” hands. As we share our burdens with other and also help them bear theirs, we fulfill the law of love. There is a power in knowing someone else is going through something similar as you are and that they are also holding on to the same faith that you are.
Those who have gone through severe suffering throughout history, have been able to endure immense amounts of it if they have others who can walk through the valley with them. But when people are isolated from the power of Christian community and the fellowship of sharing in the suffering, they are in a perilous predicament.
That is why it is important for the Christian church to suffer with those suffer, even if those suffering are not from your same faith tradition. It doesn’t matter. When one part of the body suffers, we all suffer. There is one body of Christ. We are all part of that one body.
Who do you know who is suffering in the body of Christ either near you or far from you? How can you help bear their burdens? As we help and encourage others in their suffering, we too can count on those around us when our time of trial comes!
Prayer: God help us to bear each other burdens. We know there is immense encouragement when we walk along side a brother or sister going through a tough trial. We pray for all Christians who are being persecuted for their faith right now. Give them your supernatural strength and encouragement. Do not let the tempter discourage them to the point of losing faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment