SCRIPTURE
1 Thess 3:1-5
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.
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.
COMMENT
Paul did not want his suffering to cause the discouragement of others. Did you hear that? He was suffering for Christ, but did not want that to limit the faith of others. He did not want others to be moved (away from the faith?) by his afflictions. Not that he was hiding them, not that he was preaching some kind of gospel that said everything should go your way now, he just did not want to see others moving away from their faith because of his suffering.
A few take-aways:
- Paul was not only passionate about Jesus, he was passionate about the genuine faith of others. I think that is part of being passionate about Jesus. How can we say we love Jesus while watching others go to hell?
- Paul suffered for his faith, but did not view that suffering as something to be avoided. He was content with his lot in life because of his passion for Jesus.
- Paul did not hide his afflictions from others. He even states that, "you yourselves know that we are destined for this." No "your best life now" stuff. And I believe that when he ways WE, he is referring to him and them and not him and those with him. WE will suffer afflictions for our faith. Do not let the suffering of others or of your own diminish your faith.
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