1 Thessalonians 3

Have you even been introduced to someone as God’s fellow worker? It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Paul described Timothy as, “our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you (the Thessalonians) in your faith” (1 Thessalonians 3:2). Could you be described as God’s fellow worker?

I am impressed in this chapter (1 Thessalonians 3) with Paul’s obvious heart for his fellow workers (there was a reason they were called brothers even though they had no blood relations) and his heart for the church – some of whom he had not known long and had only spent a short time with. And yet, with the good news Timothy brought of the Thessalonians’ strong faith and love Paul says, “For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord” (1 Thess 3:8). You can hear his heart filled with joy. For now we really live!

Paul had been concerned that when he and his fellow workers moved on to carry the gospel message to other towns the tempter might be successful in tempting the young Thessalonian church away from true faith in God and love for Him and one another. It is a very real and powerful threat that is still active and alive today. It is why the armor of God is so important. Thankfully, the Thessalonians were standing strong.

Another way that Paul shows his heart is through his prayers – night and day – most earnestly – remembering the Thessalonians, praying they might see each other again, and praying that their faith would be strengthened even more. This is an important reminder to keep praying for our brothers and sisters in the church – even if they appear to be doing alright and don’t have any known health problems (often the most common needs on the church prayer list). The tempter is always looking for little cracks in the armor. Prayer is huge. Keep at it. Night and day. Most earnestly. Remember your extended church family in your prayers. Pray for their faith to be strong and growing – with any gaps filled in to present a stronger front against the tempter.

Healthy faith displays action and love. Pray also that love will be increased – love for each other (the church) and also for “everyone else” (vs. 12) including those outside who need to know God and His Son Jesus. Increasing love. Love is a beautiful thing – but increasing love is even so much better. Don’t be content being a loving person – strive and pray to have increasing love. Be a parent, a spouse, a neighbor, a boss, a co-worker, a missionary, one of God’s fellow workers with increasing love. Pray for increasing love for yourself, each other and everyone else.

AND – of course we have to end this devotion as Paul ends every chapter in 1 Thessalonians – REMEMBER – Jesus is coming back!! So live your life preparing for that day! As Paul says so well – “May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” This is my prayer for you – my fellow SeekGrowLove reader. Blameless and holy, I hope to see you there. Come, Lord Jesus, come!

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

Wh0 has been God’s fellow workers with you? What have they done for you and for God? Do they know how much you appreciate them?
How is your faith and love doing – if someone were sent to give Paul a report on you and your church’s faith and love what would Paul hear back? Would he rejoice that you are standing firm? Where can your faith grow, filling in the gaps? How can your love increase?
Pray the prayers of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 3 (for faith filled in, increasing love and blameless/holy people ready to stand/bow before God when Jesus returns) for yourself, and your church family and extended church family. Use specific names God brings to mind. Repeat night and day – most earnestly.

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Standing Firm in the Lord

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

When reading this chapter, the joy Paul had stood out to me. Paul faced challenge after challenge, obstacle after obstacle as he worked to spread the gospel, yet he is still full of joy.

Paul starts the chapter by talking about how he feared that the Thessalonians would be led astray by the temptations and afflictions they would face. He says that for this reason, he asked someone to report on their faith, hoping that all his work there wouldn’t have been in vain. But when Timothy returned with a report about the Thessalonians, it became clear that they had stood firm in their faith through all the persecution they faced.

In verse 7, Paul writes that he and his companions were comforted by the news that Timothy brought. The good news about the Thessalonians was so great that it provided comfort in the midst of affliction! Paul states that they now really live if the Thessalonians stand firm in their faith. The Thessalonians provided so much joy to the lives of Paul and his companions that it feels like they just started to really live! In verse 9, Paul asks what thanks they can give to God for all the joy he has about the Thessalonians. There is so much joy that he doesn’t even know how to put it into words to thank God. This joy is so overwhelming that he can’t even start to understand how much thanks he needs to give God.

Are you filling others with as much joy as Paul is full of from the Thessalonians? Are those who taught you the Bible filled with joy from the way it has changed your life? Paul’s joy came from seeing that he was able to make this impact on the Thessalonians and that they were able to continue standing firm. We each need to be like the Thessalonians, providing joy to our teachers and others as we continue to walk in the way of the Lord.

Are you filled with joy like Paul? God has provided each of us with much more than we ever deserved. None of us deserve salvation, but God offered it to each one of us. Our lives should be full of joy because of this great gift. I can’t even begin to thank God enough for everything that He has given me!

Paul’s response to this joy is shown in verse 10. He says that he and his companions are earnestly praying that they may see the Thessalonians again and continue to strengthen their faith. He doesn’t claim that his job is now done, as the Thessalonians were able to stand up to opposition. Instead, he says that he wants to visit to teach them even more, to make them even stronger, lacking nothing in their faith.

What is your response to being filled with joy? We need to be constantly giving thanks for all that we have been given, night and day praising God. Are you asking God that you can continue to do the work which He has prepared for you or are you saying that your job is done? This joy should cause you to want to do even more, spreading the good news to all those around you so that they too might experience this joy.

-Kaitlyn Hamilton

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

What is the biggest challenge you face in standing firm in the Lord? How can you ask for help from your brothers and sisters in Christ? (If you don’t have a church family yet – make it your first priority to find one!)
Are there brothers and sisters or children in the faith that give you great joy when you see how they are standing firm in the faith even in the midst of trials? Let them know.
Spend an extra ten minutes in prayer today thanking God.

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