1 Thessalonians 3

The “Good” List

-Devotions by Juliet Taylor (TN)

Jehoshaphat narrowly escaped being taking out for his mistake in aligning himself with the most evil king in Israel’s history, going to war with him against the LORD’S advice. Upon return home, he’s met with the words of the LORD through Jehu who says,

“Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord and so bring wrath on yourself from the Lord? ³But there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God.” (2 Chr 19:3).

This says a lot. Yes, Jehoshaphat did much good in the eyes of the Lord, but he made a grave mistake. After his return and listening to the words of the LORD, it seems he learns from his mistakes and gets back on track, following the path of righteousness. He appoints judges in all the fortified cities of Judah to consider carefully how they judge, as they are being judge for God, “for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.” (2 Chron 19:7). We find this bit of wisdom in the New Covenant too.

They’re also told to warn their brother if a dispute comes between brother or sister, so that they may not be guilty, and the wrath of God will not come on either of them. This sounds like the wisdom we find in Matthew 18.

Jehoshaphat is prepared for the next battle, as he seeks God and his wisdom about what to do. He declares a fast and humbles himself before God, declaring that he is afraid, powerless, and doesn’t know what to do, but his eyes are on God. He praises God for being above all, almighty and powerful. He remembers what God has done for his fathers and reminds him of his promises to them.

God in turn tells the people not to be afraid, for the battle belongs to him. They get to stand on the sidelines and see the salvation of the LORD put to work on their behalf. So the king worships God with all the people, then instructs his people to put their trust in God to be established and to succeed. He sends the singers out to battle first. When they begin singing, the LORD God goes to work. It’s a miraculous tale. When the battle is won, the people bless the LORD and he gives them peace…

……until Jehoshaphat goes and makes the same mistake again. He aligns himself with the next evil king of Israel and his plans are thwarted. If only Jehoshaphat would have listened to God until the end of his race.

There’s so much going on here that we can apply to our lives. For one, set your heart to seek God and do what he says. Don’t align yourself with evil doers. If you do, repent, humble yourself, cry out to God in your distress. Seek God’s admonishment for your own good. Sing praises to him for all his goodness. Bless him. Watch him work.

Jehoshaphat is on the list of “good kings,” or “mostly good kings.” Oh, that we would be on the list of good people in the eyes of our God until the end of our race. Thank God that we can through our Lord Jesus.

The Thessalonians are on Paul’s “good” list. He writes so passionately to them. He couldn’t bear the thought that they may have been deceived by those who don’t want them to know Christ, or through thinking that they may have lost heart after seeing him suffer for Christ (as they too will have to suffer for Christ).

He can rejoice though after sending Timothy to them, to know that their faith is strong, and their love abounds, despite the battles they’ve faced on behalf of preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God for Christ. Now that Paul has heard their good report, he can really live.

Imagine that being our attitude towards brothers and sisters we’ve preached to, or someone you know who’s changed her mind and decided to live for Christ. This is exactly who we are supposed to be in Christ. Having this attitude because you’ve gained souls for Christ will establish your heart blameless before God at the coming of our Lord Jesus the Christ.

QUESTIONS

1. What are ways you can humble yourself before the LORD when facing an impossible battle, like Jehoshaphat?

2. Do you see any other wisdom from God that he reiterates from the Old Testament into the New Testament?

3. Do you “really live” after hearing a good report about your brothers and sisters in Christ you’ve witnessed to? What a beautiful attitude to have.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father – I thank You for Your wisdom, power and love and for revealing Yourself and Your way to us through Your Word. Like Jehoshaphat, help me to seek You, not align with evil, humble myself, know the power of singing praise, and turn my eyes on You, especially when I don’t know what to do. May I learn from my mistakes, and show others the good way that leads to life eternal, made possible by Your precious Son Jesus. In his name I pray, Amen.

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God’s Fellow Worker

Old Testament: 1 Chronicles 25-27

Poetry: Psalm 148

* New Testament: 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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