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The Sending of Timothy:
How do you stand firm? Are you standing firm? Let’s see what is happening in Thessaloniki. Paul, early on in the letter, had expressed his love by saying, “And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.” He also spoke of how they were his “…pride and joy”. Now in the last part of the narrative he is talking about why he sent Timothy to the Thessalonians and this started with a high level of concern.
1 Thessalonians 3:5 (NLT) “Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, 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, and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. 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.”
He had sent Timothy to encourage and strengthen their faith but also to see if they had fallen away due to the tempter otherwise known as Satan. Paul did not want their labor to have been in vain. They had preached the Gospel and many had begun to follow Jesus. He had warned them that “troubles would come soon.”
Satan is still around causing trouble. We must be alert of his divisiveness. He does not want you to walk with Christ. Even so, the Thessalonians Christians were showing the world how to stand faithful.
The Returning of Timothy: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-10 (NLT) “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. 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. It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. 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.”
With Timothy’s return Paul and Silas could finally breathe. What good news! The Church was not failing, but enduring and joyful as they remembered them. This gave Paul and Silas strength in return. “It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.” As we see, “For Paul whether they, stood firm in the Lord was a matter of life or death.” Paul was most interested in their, “steadfast commitment to Christ.” He then could receive great joy during their times of prayer. For the Thessalonians to fail would have been like “death” to Paul.
Are you strengthened and joyful when your brothers and sisters in the Lord overcome temptation?
Are you praying for your brothers and sisters to come to know Christ?
James 5:16 (NIV) “Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Don’t forget the power of prayer!
Think on your time to stand firm.
What helps you continue in Jesus Christ?
Remember the Thessalonians strength and bravery in troubled times.
Christ is still on the throne. We serve the same God as the Thessalonians
We pray that whatever you may be going through that you hold on to God’s unchanging hand. Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Reference(s):
Gordon D. Fee “The Letters of First and Second Thessalonians”
God Bless you,
Pastors Willie and Rochelle McIntosh
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