Journey Through 1Thessalonians – Chapter 3

No man is an island, we all have a desire to have some form of companionship and some of us may even add on a furry friend as a cherry on top. There is such a desire that comes when we don’t get to see our friends and loved ones after a long time. Physical company has a way of creating an environment that is fun, conducive and better, because we not only get to see our loved ones face to face, but have a true feel of exactly how they’ve been. This is the feeling we get from Paul as he starts his 3rd letter to the church in Thessalonica. He was longing to visit them but the enemy blocked their way, and he puts this in his writing when he says, “when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.” Truth be told phone conversations, emails, and chats cannot even come close to physical company and remember they didn’t have all these back in the days, it was all letters. I often wonder how the letters were sent? Was is through another person or through mail that existed in those times? I don’t know, so I guess these are the questions we will be asking our fellow believers when we get to Heaven.

Have you ever wondered what legacy you would leave behind? For Paul, his hope, joy and crown in which he and the rest would glory or be happy in the presence of Jesus Christ when He comes, would be in the believers whose lives were changed because of accepting and following the gospel as preached by Paul and his companions. Indeed this world is not our home, but for all who have preceded before us, like Paul and all the other names that we get to read about in the Bible, it is because of the life they lived that we now know about them. Yes, the Bible will not be written again so that we can have modern day believers added onto it, but we all have a responsibility to spread God’s Word to the best of our ability. I have led some people to Christ and I must admit it is such an amazing feeling to know that you are fulfilling the great commission, (“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,”) spreading His love one soul at a time. The lives we touch, the people we pray for, all count as a legacy of a life well lived for Christ here on earth.

When Paul and his companions were not able to visit the church, they sent Timothy who was a brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ. Timothy was sent in order to “strengthen and encourage them in their faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them.” It’s very clear from this verse that trials are part of our salvation walk, we cannot avoid them, or close ourselves in a room waiting for them to go away. However, when we have believers in the body of Christ praying with us and standing in the gap for us, then whatever load that we may have will be made lighter, because we are surrounded by an army of people who love and pray for us. James reminds us of this in chapter 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

As we see from scripture, Timothy did travel to see Thessalonica and went back to give a favourable report, “Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love.” There’s nothing good as a good report! it brings in a big sigh of relief, it calms the heart and it brings hope, so I guess I can say that I can relate to what Paul is writing. Timothy’s report was, “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,” – the feeling was mutual! And because we know that good news brings happiness to the heart, Paul and his companions were “encouraged about their faith, amidst their own distress,” because the believers in Thessalonica were standing firm in the Lord. What about you? are you standing firm in the Lord? or are you wishy-woshy and tossed around by the cares and demands that this world is asking from you. The cares of this world will never end, but we are called to be salt and light of the wold, (Matthew 5:13-14), to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. To put on the full armour of God so that we can take our stand against the devils schemes (Ephesians 6:10-11). It’s all a choice that we have to make everyday and that is to follow Jesus Christ.

Paul finishes chapter three with a prayer and I hope that as believers, this will be said the same of us. “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 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.” Love is the greatest gift of all and God showed us this when He sent His only Son to die a gruesome death on the cross so that you and I may have eternal life through Him. This means that we also have to express this love to other people. Yes we will get hurt in life, but we are called to be different, we are called to be Christ Ambassadors, people who will emulate Him and live a life worth bringing Glory and Honour to our Father in Heaven.

Memory Verse 1Thessalonians 3:12-13 “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 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.”

Blessings!!