1 Thessalonians 3 - Long Time No See!

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3 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4 In 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. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.

Two times Paul says, "When I could stand it no more". He is referring to the anxiety he was experiencing thinking about the church in Thessalonica. He knew they were undergoing some suffering, so he was concerned it might affect their faith. Paul deemed that it was best that he and his colleagues stay in Greece, but he was concerned so he sent his most valued co-worker, Timothy. 

We thought it good to be left in Athens alone: For the sake of the Thessalonians, Paul was willing to be left in Athens alone. It cost him something to send Timothy to the Thessalonians, and he thought it was good to pay that cost. - Guzik

Paul acknowledges once again that as Christians we are "destined" for trials. These trials come in various shapes and sizes. Though some of us may not be directly persecuted, we can be persecuted in other ways. Any time we stand up for Christian values, we run the risk of being misunderstood and made fun of. Many times people will resent us because of their own issues with life or Christianity in general. Because we are a Christian, they may project these issues on to us. 

Paul's main concern was the tempter might tempt them to question their faith. The word "tempter" is the same word for the word "Satan".

"Paul recognized that the tempter – that is, Satan – wanted to exploit this season of suffering. As in the case of Job, Satan wanted to tempt the Thessalonians to give up on God." (Guzik)

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

6 But 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. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

Fortunately Paul's fears were relieved, as Timothy came back with such a good report about the church at Thessalonica. Importantly he focused on their faith and love. These are the two most important aspects of our life together as a church, faith and love. They are related. Our faith is expressed in love, or it is no faith at all. But if we love but don't have faith, we not accepted the gospel of our salvation. 

Paul is glad to hear that the Thessalonians had great memories about him and also that they hoped to see them soon as well. Once again, you can see how important the relational component was in Paul's friendship with those he reached. Although most importantly he is making sure their faith is strong amidst trials, he also values the close-knit friendship they developed together. 

One day in heaven we will be reunited with all of those who people who were part of our faith journey. That will be an amazing moment, as it is revealed to us all of the people sent our way to encourage us and love us as Jesus would. 

 “Never is the servant of God so full of delight as when he sees that the Holy Spirit is visiting his hearers, making them to know the Lord, and confirming them in that heavenly knowledge. On the other hand, if God does not bless the word of his servants it is like death to them. To be preaching and to have no blessing makes them heavy of heart: the chariot-wheels are taken off, and they drag heavily along: they seem to have no power nor liberty.” (Spurgeon)

11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Paul's hope and desire is for the Lord to open up the door to be reunited with them, but in the meantime he prays that their love would continue to grow and overflow. Note again the key ingredient for any healthy church is love within the body and in the community. When you walk into a church, you can feel the love the people for each other and God. 

On the contrary, when there is strife and division in a church you can feel that as well. The bible says, "They will no we are Christians by our love." Though people of all religions try to be loving, it is only in the Christian faith where the founder defined true love by what He did for his people. 

"God proved his love to us for while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!" Romans 5:8

If faith and love are the hallmarks of our life together, we will be prepared when Jesus returns. We should spend more time learning how to love each other than spending time predicting when Jesus will return!

Faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is LOVE!