Today’s readings: 1 Thessalonians 1-3, Psalm 130
1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
As Paul and his companions traveled through Asia Minor and into Macedonia, they experienced great joys and challenging trials. He speaks of affliction and distress, and he certainly experienced those things, as we’ve seen in our readings of Acts so far. I recall how on one occasion he was stoned, dragged out of the city, and left for dead. His response was to get up and go back into the city before leaving the next day to continue his missionary work.
Paul is a great example of faithfulness even in the face of suffering.
He is also a great example of thankfulness and encouragement. Timothy has returned with good news of the Thessalonians’ faith and love, and Paul expresses his great appreciation for their faithfulness and encouragement to him. This is truly a two-way street. We best love, encourage, and support one another when that love and respect, humility and faithfulness, are mutual.
I love how thankful Paul is that they are remaining true to the faith even after he has left their city. And all this culminates in praise and glory to God.
Many of us are less likely to experience the kind of persecution Paul endured. But there is another kind of affliction that we might not even recognize as such. Affluence can be a hidden spiritual danger. It can close our hearts to the blessings of God, tempting us to believe we don’t really need him if we have all we need, can enjoy rewarding experiences, and have little concern about our next meal or the roof over our heads.
Paul’s closing blessing speaks to the hearts of those experiencing suffering, affliction, and distress. But it also speaks to those of us for whom the lines have fallen in pleasant places (Psalm 16:6).
Hear this as God’s gift to you, wherever you are on that continuum:
Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Amen!
Follow the Word is a daily Bible reading and devotional ministry of St. John Lutheran Church, Cypress, Texas.
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