Oftentimes I find myself wondering how a past friend that God had placed in my path to disciple and befriend is faring these days. I wonder if they are still in church and if they have continued to grow in the Lord, and follow the encouragement and discipleship that I had invested in their lives. For most of them, I may never know until I get to heaven. For some sadly, I am keenly aware that they fell back or did not make much effort to feed themselves and grow spiritually. And there were some who returned to a life of drugs, other addictions, jail and one who overdosed and died.
My heart has ached over the years for these precious souls that God had placed in my life yet, there was little I could do for them short of sharing the gospel with them, pick them up and take them to church or a doctors appointment, run errands, give them money for gas, food, medicine or simply answer their questions as best I could when they would call to talk or when I visited them.
I bet you have experienced the same thing as you have ministered to others in Jesus' name. We can only do so much, and then we must leave the outcome and increase to the Lord.
The Apostle Paul gave further evidence of his love to the Thessalonian believers, by sending Timothy to check on them when he himself was unable to. Paul felt the pangs of concern for them because he knew that they would be faced with great trials, hardships, struggles, persecution and isolation as they were on their own to practice what he, himself had taught them and warned them that they would be facing.
In his letter to the Thessalonian believers, he told them of his great satisfaction at the return of Timothy, with the wonderful news that Timothy had brought back on their behalf. Early on Paul had concerns about the direction that they might take when they were faced with their spiritual enemy the devil. He was concerned about their isolation from him and how they might fare when they were left alone to work out their own salvations. Paul concluded with a fervent prayer for them at the end of his letter. His greatest concern was not their hardships from these events but how they were standing in their faith to endure them. Paul understood that it was their faith that was truly being challenged and attached. And their real attacker was satan.
This is one of the great lessons of Thessalonians to us all; that God wants us to know that regardless of our situations, trials and hardships, it is the testing of our faith that is most important. Understanding that it is our faith that is truly being challenged and attached. satan's big plan for us is to destroy our faith.
The scripture says in Hebrews 5:8 that "Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered." This is what Paul was hoping and praying for the church in Thessalonica. Paul knew that once he left them, the enemy would come in behind him and work to destroy their faith through their trials.
He also encouraged them by asking God to increase their love for one another. That their love would even overflow for each other. Paul knew that their strength would come through their faith and numbers with other believers. He wanted them to understand that they needed one another.
Today, sweet friend, is no different than that of Paul's day. Believer's still need each other as "iron sharpens iron" tells us in Proverbs 27:17. The dying world also needs us to love them and share the good news of hope with them. Upon the Lord's return, may we all be found doing our part in spreading that good news.
Hold Fast,
-Bren
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