Day 772: Building disciples - 1 Thessalonians 3 vs 6 - 13

6-8 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 - for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 9-10 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

11-13 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. 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 English Standard Version.

Paul had waited anxiously in Athens for Timothy to bring news of how the new Christians at Thessalonica were getting on in the face of some severe trials they were facing. In vs 6-8 he expresses the deep relief he felt when Timothy brought the news that the believers were standing firm, and their love and faith had grown stronger. What can vs 9-10 tell us about the sort of relationship Paul felt towards those believers?

He obviously had a genuine and deep affection for them. An affection that wanted the very best for them and led him to pray often for their spiritual growth. Paul wasn't the sort of person to rush in and out of a town and count how many decisions were made for Christ. He was a disciple maker who wanted those who called on Christ for salvation to become rooted and established in their new life. This is such an important part of the gospel. It's not about numbers and statistics and filling Church pews. It's about people and their relationship with God and with one another. We see this very clearly in vs 11-13. What are the three things he prays for in those verses?

He prays that God will open the way for him to see them again. Paul wanted the whole world to hear the gospel, but that didn't stop him from wanting what we today call 'quality time' with those who were already saved. And then he asked God that their love for one another would constantly grow. He makes no mention of money and support for his ministry. For Paul the gospel was about abounding love for God, for fellow Christians, and 'for all'. I take that to mean those outside of God's Kingdom as well.

Thirdly, he prays for their hearts to be totally committed to living a holy life so that they would be blameless for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's obvious from many parts of the New Testament that the first Christians lived in eager anticipation of Christ's speedy return. They were not to know that 2000 years would pass by and still the Church awaits her Lord. That's why we find the apostle Peter, shortly before his death, writing to Christians and saying: “I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, 'What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.'” (2 Peter 3: 3-4)

What was Peter's answer to such a taunt? He said “You mustn't forget this one thing - a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Peter 3:8-9)

Even though it's been such a long time, we must not lose our sense of eager expectation. We mustn't drop our guard and get caught up with the ways of the world again. Paul's prayer applies as much to us as it did to the believers in Thessalonica. May our love be growing, and may our hearts be established blameless in holiness before our God and Father. May we be ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.