1 Thessalonians part 3

1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 | “A Second Look at a Missionary”

Today we continue in 1 Thessalonians, but we are also completing the first half of the letter. We will read through chapter 3 which is the last bit of Paul’s thanksgiving discourse. As we do so, we will once again get a glimpse into the inner workings of Paul’s missionary life. So, just as last week, let’s read this letter with an eye toward learning from the Great Apostle to the Gentiles.

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.

The Glory of the Missionary | 2:17-20

Imagine pouring your heart and soul into a project, only to have it stripped from you. The word ‘torn’ there is also translated ‘orphaned’. Paul is eager to return to them, because a piece of himself has been taken from him. Paul’s desire to see the Thessalonians is emphasized by the repetition of phrases—“endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire...because we wanted.” Here, Paul blames Satan for his inability to return to the Thessalonians. Later, Paul will say he was worried their work was in vain, because the tempter may have come and taken them away.

Despite the missionary’s best efforts, there is always a worry their work will be in vain, because Satan is an active foe.

Paul wants to see his fellow believers in person, but Satan has kept him at bay. Now, we don’t know what that looked like. Perhaps the “thorn in the flesh” Paul mentions in 2 Cor 12:6 was acting up. Or, perhaps the mobs incited by their rejection of Christ had setup road blocks. Whatever the physical look of the problem, Paul points the blame at Satan. Problems will come, and many times they will manifest as people. But, we must remember that our true foe is Satan and sin.

Contrarily, look at the hope Paul has. “Hope” is a term Paul usually reserves for the Second Coming. The hope of our faith is the return of Christ. Look at verse 19 again, though. Paul asks what is their hope or joy or crown of boasting before the Lord. His only hope of victory is the fruit of his missionary labor. Paul does look forward to seeing Jesus and displaying his worldly goods, his social status, or his Roman citizenship. He looks forward to seeing Jesus with the Thessalonians, the Corinthians, the Philippians, the Romans, the Colossians, the Galatians, and all the other little churches he planted on this earth.

The only cause for boasting by the missionary are the people who have turned to faith in Christ.

Before we move to chapter 3, I’d like to focus your attention on this point. It is very much worth noting that in a letter with 5 chapters, 3 of them are dedicated to thanking God for the new believers in Thessalonica. Notice how inextricably tied are these three ideas: the Return of Christ, giving glory/thanksgiving to God, and new believers. The ‘Hope’ that is tied to Christ’s return is also the kind of Hope Paul has four his new disciples. The ‘joy’ that is tied to joy in Christ is also tied these new believers. And, the ‘crown of boasting,’ or put simply ‘success and accomplishment,’ that Paul has is tied to the new believers. It is not that new believers are a priority for Paul; they are the priority!

Perhaps our failure to make new disciples has much more to do with our priorities than we’d like to admit. Many Christians will lament a changing society—and yet the world has always been against Christ. Many Christians will lament a lack of time—and yet the modern world has much more down time than any century past. Many Christians will lament a lack of knowledge for how to engage effectively with the lost—and yet we live in the Information Age will communication at our fingertips, literally. I write this against myself first, because I have given each of these excuses myself.

We will make more disciples when disciple-making becomes our priority.

The Joy of the missionary | 3:1-10

3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 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.

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. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

We have already looked at the many afflictions Paul faced, so let’s move on to his good news! The Thessalonians have endured their trials faithfully! Paul was ready to send them encouragement as they faced outside pressure, but instead, he has received the encouragement because of their faith. A couple of weeks ago I noted we can draw encouragement from looking at where God is working around the world. Even if we never see those Christians, hearing their stories can inspire our own walk with Christ. But here, we see the opposite is just as true. We can encourage other Christians, and especially Christian leaders, by sharing what God is doing in our own midsts.

Sharing with other Christians how God is working in our midsts is one way we encourage one another.

Having been encouraged by Timothy’s report, Paul is all the more ready to return to Thessalonica and “supply what is lacking in [their] faith.” Now that Paul knows they have received his initial teachings, he is ready to show them more. It is a joy for Paul to share with them what God has done.

Sharing the story of Christ and making disciples brings joy to the missionary.

A moment ago I noted that perhaps when we get our priorities in line, we will also make more disciples. There will be those who see that statement as guilt or shame, but it is also a reminder of where our true joy comes from. When we step out in faith, sharing what God has done, making disciples as He calls us to make them, then we will discover a greater joy than we thought possible. Sin and selfishness will always drive us away from true joy, and yet they always offer so much less than what God has put before us. C. S. Lewis said it this way:

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

(The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses)

Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a pearl of immeasurable price and a treasure worth selling everything we own. Imagine finding such a treasure only to discard it for mud pies. It is time for the Church to crawl out of the mud pit and enjoy the joy of the Lord.

The Goal of our Faith | 3:11-13

Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Paul ends this section with a prayer for the Thessalonians. It is a simple prayer with a profound meaning. Paul prays the Thessalonians will grow in their faith and love to the degree that they can stand boldly at the Return of Christ, knowing they have done their part in sharing salvation with others. He prays their lives are fully transformed by the love of God—which is the Goal of our Faith.

The Goal of Faith is to be fully transformed by the love of God, able to stand firmly and boldly on the Day of Jesus’ Return, knowing you have been faithful.

Allow me to read this prayer again slowly, but this time, read it as your own prayer as well.

Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you…

May our Creator and Savior guide our steps towards those who will hear and believe the message of salvation.

And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you…

May our Lord increase the love that we have for each other, and our love for the lost, as those who have come before us have loved us. May the chain of love and gospel not break with us!

So that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

May our Lord guide us into His love, His mission, and His salvation, as we guide others to Him, so that we are found blameless in holiness before our God. May we be able to stand before God knowing that we have done our part—that we have been faithful!