by Katrina
LINK: 1 Thessalonians 3
BACKGROUND
From this chapter, we know some of the activity of Paul and Timothy that fills in some gaps in the account written in Acts. Paul, Silas, and Timothy traveled to Thessalonica on the second missionary journey as recorded in Acts 17:1-14. The Jews became jealous of the converts, gathered a mob, and set the city in an uproar. The missionaries were staying with a man named Jason, and the Jews charged him with going against Caesar. Paul and Silas escaped the city and traveled to Berea where Timothy soon joined them. But the Jews followed them there and stirred up the people in that city. So, some believers conducted Paul out of the city to Athens, and Timothy and Silas followed shortly. Then, according to our passage today, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to encourage the believers and to assess the condition of the church there. Timothy rejoined Paul in Corinth and reported that the church in Thessalonica was doing well. While in Corinth, Paul wrote both of the Thessalonian letters.
REFLECTION
Once again we see Paul's heart for his "children in the Lord" in his prayer for them. He prays God will allow him to visit them in Thessalonica, and "may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men . . . so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints."
APPLICATION
We should be growing in our love for other believers as well as for all men. And we should be growing in holiness until the day Jesus returns for us. That should keep us busy! :-)
PRAYER
Lord, teach us to love one another and become more holy, continuously growing until you return for us. In the name of Jesus, amen.
1 comment:
My discipler in college had us do a whole topical study about following up new believers based on this whole book that we had just finished studying verse-by-verse. It is a fantastic study!
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