Daily Writing

Thursday, 20 July 2017

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— 1 Thessalonians 3:6

Paul’s words of this verse are as if a spring of cool water has broken forth in the midst of a dry desert which he had been walking upon. There had almost been anxiety over the state of those at Thessalonica, and that troubled state had ended. This is first felt in the words, “But now that Timothy has come to us from you.” His words of the previous verses highlight the stress that was felt –

no longer endure it
shaken by these afflictions
suffer tribulation
no longer endure it (again)
lest by some means the tempter had tempted you
our labor might be in vain

Each of these built up a feeling which became determining factors in Paul’s sending Timothy to them to ascertain how they fared. Upon the return of Timothy came relief. He had “brought us the good news of your faith and love.” In this, “faith” is to be noted as a confidence in God, and in His gospel message concerning Jesus Christ, which gave them the ability to remain strong and fixed on the gospel, despite what had occurred with Paul, and despite his absence from them.

The “love” is certainly speaking of their love of Christ first and foremost. But it must also include their love of one another which was able to strengthen them in pursuit of Christ. And it must finally be referring to a love directed to Paul and his associates as well. This is evidenced by the next words, “and that you always have good remembrance of us.”

The report is from Timothy, and so he conveyed to them what he heard and saw. Therefore, “a good remembrance” goes deeper than just, “We sure miss Paul and the rest of you guys.” Although this is certainly the case, it must be inclusive of holding to the doctrine which Paul instructed them concerning Christ. Those precepts which had been given were being adhered to as if they were the instructions of God, because this is what they are. In being observant to what was communicated to them, they were demonstrating a good remembrance of them.

Finally Paul notes that those in Thessalonica were “greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you.” There was no animosity in them because Paul and his associates had left and gone on with mission work elsewhere. They remembered the persecution, and they knew that his departure was not a shunning of them, but a reasonable choice to make. They were led to Christ through their ministry, and they had a strong bond of attachment to them, just as Paul and his associates did toward the church there in Thessalonica.

Life application: It can be very tough on a pastor to have those he ministers to suddenly turn on him over some minor point of disagreement. He spends his time counseling, preparing sermons, putting up with many issues of grief which arise, etc. And yet, when such a time of disagreement arises, congregants will often get up in a huff and go off to another church. If the pastor cares about his flock, he cares about losing them as well. He will carry the memory of those he served all his life, hopefully with good memories, not sad ones.

Lord God, give us the ability to show ourselves as humble and forgiving while dealing with others in our congregation. People are filled with error. As we are all people, then we are all filled with error. How easy it is to get in a huff and take off for other pastures, but how much better it is to resolve differences, to demonstrate grace, and to be attentive to those we fellowship with. Help us in this, Lord. Amen.

Wednesday, 19 July 2017

For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. 1 Thessalonians 3:5

The words “For this cause” are speaking specifically about being “shaken by these afflictions” which Paul mentioned in verse 3. He had told them such things would arise, and he knew that they had arisen. But just because someone is warned of something, it doesn’t mean that they will bear up under what was warned against. He was concerned, and his concern is reflected in the next words, “when I could no longer endure it.”

One can just imagine Paul, fidgeting about and mumbling in his state of anxiety (be anxious for nothing, Paul!) at what may have happened to his beloved congregation. He and his associates had been driven out by the foes of the gospel, and he wondered if the congregation had seen this and lost hope. This is what he means by saying, “lest by some means the tempter had tempted you.”

There could have been a false gospel introduced to counter the true gospel he had presented. There could have been false teachers who had more eloquent oratory skills who had come to steal them away. There could have been doubts leading to distrust of the message they heard. The tempter has an entire arsenal of weapons at his disposal which are intended to destroy the faith, and to pull true believers away from what they had originally received.

The term “tempter” is given in this verse to show that his nature is not just one of tempting, but that this is his constant manner of behavior. He tempts and he continues to tempt. With this constant attack, Paul was concerned for the people of the church. Could they bear up? Had they borne up? He needed to know whether they had, or if (as he says) “our labor might be in vain.”

All the effort, the love of his Lord and of the people he ministered to, the knowledge he had imparted – all of it – was possibly washed away by the tide of the tempter’s flood. If there was a chance of this, he needed to have his associates go back and correct the situation, if possible. Their faith was too precious to be lost, even at the expense of his own loneliness.

Life application: How concerned are we for those who are susceptible to being drawn away from the faith they once professed. The Bible does say that they will not lose their salvation, but it does note that they can lose their joy, and also their rewards as well. Further, those with whom they come in contact will never be evangelized if they have fallen away from their own faith. There are serious repercussions in allowing someone to be neglected in their young faith.

Heavenly Father, help each of us to be caring towards those who are new in the faith. Unless they are built up and established, they can easily be drawn away by the tempter. They can lose their joy, and they can lose their hope of great rewards for a life of faith that they otherwise would have had. Be with us, and give us caring hearts to lead young believers to a greater and more perfect understanding of who You are, and of what Your word tells them. Amen.

Tuesday, 18 July 2017

For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 1 Thessalonians 3:4

Paul begins this verse with “For.” In this, he is confirming why “no one should be shaken by these afflictions” from the previous verse. He told them also that as a body “we are appointed to this.” This is the context of the word “For.” From there, he adds in “…in fact, we told you before when were were with you that we would suffer tribulation.” As always, Paul could not write this to the church there unless it was true.

If they were never told this, they would read the letter, look at each one another in surprise, and comment, “He’s been in the funny juice.” But the words themselves bear witness to the fact that Paul and his associates had warned those in Thessalonica of what lay ahead. When the tribulation came, it became a confirming note to them that what they were experiencing was meant to be. In fact, Paul goes on to say, “…just as it happened, and you know.”

No prophecy was needed for this. He had been a persecutor of the church, and he had been persecuted after coming to Christ. As he evangelized, persecution faithfully followed after him, trying to despoil his efforts. Each new convert was a person who was set for tribulation. The warning was given because it was an expected and customary part of this new faith. The devil wants it destroyed, and so he uses all means possible to have it ended. Attacking new converts is one expected, and surely effective, way of this coming about.

The book of Acts shows this persecution, and the epistles warn us of it even to this day. But there is a way of standing firm against it given in the epistles as well. If we read and study the word, we will be able to stand against these things firmly and without wavering in our faith.

Life application: A believer who is not persecuted in some way for their faith is no threat to the devil’s influence. In other words, they are probably ineffective Christians who accepted Christ and then do nothing for Him. The more we are willing to step out and proclaim Christ, the more we will be the brunt of jokes, the target of attacks, and the focus of the devil’s attention. Let’s give that sorry fellow a black eye for his efforts.

Lord God, if we are going to face persecution for our faith, isn’t it worth it? We are the redeemed of Christ who is the only avenue of reconciliation to You. So why should we care if the devil comes after us? Instead, we should rejoice that we are having a positive effect for the name of Christ Jesus. If we can give the devil a black eye in the process, that is to our joy and rejoicing. In fact, it would be great if we could give him two! Help us to be sound, faithful proclaimers of the gospel of Christ. Amen.

Monday, 17 July 2017

…that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 1 Thessalonians 3:3

In the previous verse, Paul noted that he had sent Timothy “to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith.” He now notes that this was so “that no one should be shaken by these afflictions.” In the coming verse, he will note that he had previously told them that they would suffer tribulations. Thus, the afflictions are being used in a comparable manner to “tribulations.”

In saying that “no one should be shaken,” he uses a word unique to Scripture, sainó. It literally means, “to wag the tail.” Hence it by implication can mean to greet, flatter, or disturb. However, it appears from the context that the original meaning is appropriate. Just as easily as a dog shakes its tail, so could a believer be shaken if they were not prepared for what lies ahead in the afflictions that are sure to come.

Paul then reminds them of something he has obviously already told them about (and as will be explicit in the next verse), which, as he says, “you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.” No Christian is exempt from tribulations, and anyone who was brought to Christ with a message of security and prosperity was brought to Him under a false presentation of the gospel. These things may come, but the opposite is what should normally be expected.

The world hates the gospel message because the world belongs to the devil. And the devil will do everything possible to destroy the faith of God’s people, and to undermine the spreading of this message. Any church that teaches the prosperity gospel will be held accountable for the mishandling of God’s word. The one who receives Christ is to be instructed in the epistles of Paul, and the instruction is to be by maintaining proper context.

In such instruction, they will learn that tribulations are to be expected, but they will also be prepared for those tribulations by being grounded in the words which have been given to prepare them for those things.

Life application: Are you having trials and troubles in your Christian walk? If so, then it is something that the word said would come.

Lord God, as faithful believers in Christ, Your word tells us that we are to expect afflictions and tribulations, not wealth and prosperity. The latter may come, but there are no promises of that in this life. Rather, the prosperity gospel is a false gospel. Help us to realize this, and then to study Your word and be grounded in it so that when trials arise, we will be prepared for them. Surely You are with us, even in such dire times. Thank You for this reassurance. Amen.

Sunday, 16 July 2017

…and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 1 Thessalonians 3:2

It is evident from these words that Paul had sent Timothy from Athens. As noted in 3:1, there is no contradiction with this and with the account in Acts, as long as Paul’s terminology in the use of singular and plural pronouns is properly understood. He then calls Timothy “our brother.” This makes a fraternal connection between Timothy and the church in Thessalonica. Paul didn’t send someone disinterested in the church, but rather someone who was intimately united to it.

Further, he then calls him a “minister of God.” It is again a set of words intended to show Paul’s care for the church. He didn’t just send someone with a note in his hand which was filled with a bunch of directions. Instead, he sent a minister who was both learned and experienced in ministerial duties of preaching, teaching, and exhorting. And to add to the special personage of Timothy, he then says, “…and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ.”

Timothy was personally useful to Paul, and he was a person who worked directly along with him in spreading the gospel. It wasn’t at all the case that Timothy was of no use to Paul at the time. Rather, he was someone which Paul heavily relied upon and found useful at all times. But the weight of his care for the church at Thessalonica was of greater importance to him than having Timothy stay with him to evangelize.

Everything about Timothy’s credentials which has been stated here is to show the superlative nature of Paul’s love for the Thessalonians, and how much it meant to him that they be properly ministered to by someone that bore even his own abilities. All of this was done “to establish you.” The word “establish” is one which means “a support that fixes plants down.” Thus, it is to solidly plant. Paul’s intent was the church that He had established would now be more deeply rooted by the coming of Timothy.

And more, Paul’s desire for them in sending Timothy was to “encourage you concerning your faith.” Paul knew that they were suffering trials for their faith. They were persecuted by unbelieving Jews, and they were ridiculed by unbelieving Gentiles. Like all of us, those at Thessalonica were not super spiritual. Rather, they were common people who needed encouragement and uplifting in their faith. Paul knew this, and he sent his trusted companion and fellow worker, Timothy, to accomplish this in them.

Life application: Those who say they don’t have moments of doubt or times of weakness in their faith probably think too much of themselves. It is human nature to face such times, and it is exactly why we need to remain united to a body of believers that we can go to when they arise. Let us not forsake the gathering together of the body.

Lord God, thank You so much for the people around us who are there to encourage us and strengthen us in our faith when we are struggling. Doubts arise about many things in our walk, because it is a walk of faith and not of sight. But when our faith is weak, someone else might be at a high point in his faith; able to strengthen us. And thank You for Your word which also is there to build us up and establish us. How good You are to us to give us these things. Amen.