Day 4 - 1 Thessalonians 3: 1-13

Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, 2 and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, 3 and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. 4 Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. 5 That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.

6 But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. 7 So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. 8 It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.

9 How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. 10 Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.

11 May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. 12 And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

Tori's Comments:

"we are destined for such troubles"

Verse 10:
-"Night and day" I can't say I've ever prayed so intensely.
-"asking God to let us see you again" Just noting the substance of their prayers.
-"to fill the gaps in your faith." These people didn't even know all the answers, and yet stood firm and were praised for it!


Terrie's Comments:

verses 2-5 seems to me could be one of those passages that could be read quickly and taken way out of context... context is key.  "shaken by troubles" "we are destined for such troubles" "we warned you that troubles would soon come - and they did" 

These statements could easily be explained as any and all kinds of troubles.  If you are not careful you will miss the explanation about these troubles and how to avoid them (yes avoid them).  Paul writes "I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong.  I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you..."  Did you catch it??  the troubles that are talked about in this passage are temptations from the tempter (our enemy the devil).  So how do we avoid these troubles?  Remain in the word... Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God... stay strong in the Faith!  In Romans 8:1 it says we are to walk according to the Spirit and not walking in the flesh anymore.  

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."

Paul was concerned that the Thessalonians would remain strong in the faith.  When Timothy returned there was rejoicing!  It is encouraging to see the fruit of your labor in any job.  It is also affirming to hear that someone that you invested in appreciates it and is looking forward to seeing you again.  There are many positive and encouraging reports here:
"bringing us good news about your faith and love.", "you always remember our visit with joy "you want to see us as much as we want to see you." 

As a result Paul and Timothy benefited as well:
 "we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering", "because you have remained strong in your faith." "It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord."

As a result of being encouraged by the response of the Thessalonians it is turned into praise to God and continued prayer for the Thessalonian believers:

"How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence.  Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.
 May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen."

What would happen if we would encourage those who encourage us and pray for those who we are called to mentor using Paul's example??  The church would be filled with happy, content, faith filled, encouraged, joy filled believers.  It would be a place that those who aren't believers yet would be attracted to :-)  One of my current goals is to pay closer attention to how people prayed in the Bible and pray scripture more often.  


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!