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Learn About Your Faith - 1 Thessalonians 3
Learn About Your Faith - 1 Thessalonians 3
"For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain" (1Thess. 3:5).
Paul's time in Thessalonica was turbulent. The Jewish leaders led a mob before the city rulers in a concerted move to quell this new religious movement of Christians. Paul and Silas, for their own safety, were sent away by the new believers, yet the believers stayed. The enraged unbelieving Jews followed Paul down the road and continued to persecute him. It is not difficult to know what life was then like for these believers in Thessalonica: tribulation, persecution, and suffering ( cp. 2:2, 14, 3:3,4,5, 7). They had received the word in much tribulation (1:6), and now it continues.
Without Facebook and Texting, Paul was left to wonder how they were doing. His concern reached the point of unbearable, he sent Timothy back into the mouth of the dragon.
What was Paul's concern? The condition of the faith of these Christians. Paul knew that faith is, in fact, a changeable element in our lives. Some believe for a while, then fall away (Luke 8:13). Faith can fail (Luke 23:32), made shipwrecked (1 Tim. 1:19), cast off (1 Tim. 5:11-12), and be overthrown (2 Tim. 2:16-18).
When faith falters, it does NOT mean that there never was faith. This is often stated, but it in reality it slanders those who stumble. Paul worried about the Christians in Thessalonica. Was their faith weak or strong? Had they grown and fortified their faith enough to withstand this onslaught of the tempter? He was sifting them like wheat, have they held on to their faith?
We seem to be facing similar challenges to our faith. We have enjoyed a long time of protection against religious persecution, but that seems to be eroding in our current world situation. Such persecution and tribulation are neither new nor unique to us. We can, like the Thessalonians, become "imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen (2:14).
What can we do? As did Paul, pray for each other and our faith (see 3:11-13). Remind each other of the reality of Jesus the Lord, heaven our reward, Satan our enemy, and the temporary nature of both the tribulation and our earthly existence. We need to band together and comfort one another. We need to exhort, encourage, and implore, as did Paul (2:11). We need to be like Timothy and strengthen and encourage each other in our faith.
How is your faith? What are you doing to help the other believers in your life?
Hugh DeLong
