Check out all the previous 1 Thessalonians readings here.
1 Thessalonians Reading | Week 2 | Day 2
Prayer
Allow some silence for your soul to catch up with your body. Thank God for time to spend with Him and ask Him to meet with you.
Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-10
Read these verses three times slowly.
So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.
But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
Reflection & Questions
If you’ve ever sent a child off to college, a mission trip or a new adventure you can probably relate to what Paul is expressing in these verses. He has poured out his life for the Thessalonians and he knows that when he left them they were going to experience many trials. Would their faith hold? Would they persevere? Would they give in? He didn’t know and would have to trust them in the hands of God. He waited for news until he “could stand it no longer.” He had to know if they were ok. He sent Timothy to find out what was going on and to “strengthen and encourage” them. But the report was good – the Thessalonians are not only continuing in the faith but have genuine affection for Paul. Paul says “now we can live.” He can breathe again. But just because they are doing well, doesn’t mean the work is done. Paul longs to return to “supply what is lacking” in their faith.
The truth is we are all more vulnerable than we’d like to think. Trials can shake us to our core. Our faith needs to be strengthened and continued to be built up. It is the same for our ONE(s). Coming to faith is not the end, but simply the beginning – and our role in helping them persevere and grow is nerve wracking, exciting and a great privilege.
- Have you walked through a trial that shook you? How did you make it through?
- Who has invested in your faith? Who are you investing in?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to today’s reading.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
