Twin City church of Christ Blog
“Feb 6, 2024 - We Have Been Comforted”
Categories: 2024 Reading DevotionalsWe Have Been Comforted
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Paul sent Timothy to discover whether the Thessalonians have remained faithful to Jesus. “But 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”(1 Thess 3:6-7). Paul breathes a huge sigh of relief. Timothy informs him that the Thessalonians are still living as disciples—and in fact greatly miss Paul rather than denouncing him. The tremendous sense of anxiety he has been wrestling with is eased.
Paul goes on to reveal just how important these brothers are to him. “For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord”(1 Thess 3:8). He does not literally mean that his life depends on them, but is expressing how tremendously their endurance affects him. He describes the “joy that we feel for your sake before our God” and explains that “we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face”(1 Thess 3:9, 10). Imagine how encouraging these words would be if you were a member of the Thessalonian church—knowing that simply by continuing to try to follow Jesus, you have had such a positive impact on the apostle. Having described his prayers, Paul includes a prayer that God give them an opportunity to be reunited with the Thessalonians and strengthen them (1 Thess 3:11-13).
Paul shows us that the Christian religion comes from the heart. The hardships and suffering we endure are softened when we feel camaraderie with others who suffer alongside us. We long to know that, despite miles between us and time spent apart, our brothers are still walking with the Lord. And when we see their faith going strong through the fires, we can say alongside Paul, “we have been comforted.”
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One Thing to Think About: Do I feel this way about my brothers?
One Thing to Pray For: To see my brothers face to face and supply what is lacking in their faith (v. 10)
