1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13. Let’s go!
1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 (NIV)
1 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 God’s fellow worker 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. You know quite well that we were 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 might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
On verses 1-5: From this passage we get an inside look into what makes a pastor’s heart beat. First, we learn that a pastor is concerned for the well-being of the church. Notice that in verses 1 and 5, Paul repeats these words, “When we/I could stand it no longer”. Paul here is talking about the pain of being separated from his spiritual family in Thessalonica and not being able to know how the church was doing. So what did Paul do? He sent his spiritual son and disciple, Timothy, to the Thessalonian believers to find out how they are doing (v2).
Through this passage I am also reminded of God’s heart for us. When we were separated from God and when God could stand it no longer, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to us, to be with us, to comfort us, to bring a message from His Father for us so that we could be reunited permanently with Him.
That’s what true love does: love looks for a way to reach the beloved. That’s what God did for you and me.
1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 (NIV)
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, 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.
On verses 6-10: After Paul sent Timothy to see how the Thessalonian believers were doing, Timothy comes back to Paul with a positive report. Timothy confirms that the Thessalonian believers are still standing firm in their faith, miss Paul and his team and want to see them again. This brings overwhelming joy to Paul and his team.
What can we learn from this? Nothing brings a pastor more joy than to see his spiritual children, the people in his care, doing well, standing firm in their faith and growing more like Christ. For a pastor, there’s nothing more important than reaching people for Christ and helping Christians in his care to grow spiritually. Pastors want those in their care to thrive.
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 (NIV)
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.
On verses 11-13: Paul ends this passage with three prayers:
1. that God would clear the way for Paul and his team to see the Thessalonian church again (v11)
2. that God would cause the Thessalonian believers’ love for one another and for those around them to grow (v12)
3. that God would strengthen the Thessalonian believers so that they would be blameless and holy when Jesus returns (v13).
What can we learn from this? A pastor’s heart is expressed how he prays for the church. A pastor looks to God to work in his congregation, realizing that on his own he can do nothing.
Father, like Paul may we have a heart to see those who are far away from You reconciled to You. May we have a heart to see those in our care thrive in every way. And may we have a heart that prays and looks to You for strength to help the people we lead, for apart from You we can do nothing. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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