1 Chronicles 22-24: 1 Thessalonians 3

"But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you- therefore brethren, in all our affliction and distress we are comforted concerning you by your faith."
1 Thess 3:6-7


It’s when Paul is in Corinth he is moved to write to the Thessalonians thanks to a visit from Timothy. (Acts 18:5)  Through the process that Paul has gone through with God, all his beatings and discouragements.  What did Paul need?  He needed some encouragement.  He needed some good news, something somewhere was going well.  So here comes his buddies and say hey I know things haven’t be going well but let me tell you about what is happening in Thessalonica.  They are encouraged by you Paul, there doing well.  They want to see us.

Paul says I am going to write them a letter and tell them how proud I am of them.  I’m going to tell them about the coming of the Lord, and encourage some of the lazy ones, and too be thankful at all times.  I’m going to challenge those in immorality, but more than anything I am going to tell them how much I love them and encourage them not to be afraid.  This is a very similar cry David has over his son Solomon in 1 Chronicles 22:11as he is given the opportunity to build the temple.  "Now my son may the Lord be with you; and may you prosper, and build the house of the Lord your God, as He has said to you. 


Just as Paul may not have been aware of the fruitfulness of the people in Thessolonica we too are not aware of the fruit and good that will follow our lives as we choose to press on in the midst of times when it appears that all is lost or crumbling.  We think that stuff always have to look good.  Church has to look good.  There was none of that in the bible.  So when we face discouragement, pain, and suffering we say it’s not supposed to be that way. Paul had been a missionary and pretty much everywhere he went he would get beat up, thrown in jail, riots would start and he was always on the run for his life.  On this day he was reminded of all the good that has happened and he is encouraged and ready to press on.  I am sure we all have days that we feel like a failure, Paul was having that kind of day and the Lord reminds him that he's not.  You will never know how the decision you make to honor the Lord have impacted thousands of live.  So today press on towards the goal and build the house the Lord your God has for you.  Be strong and courageous.


In Him,


Pastor Joe


Next Reading:  1 chronicles 25-27; 1 Thess 4