1 Thessalonians – Chapter 3

…for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 1 Thessalonians 3:7 – Knowing how ministry life goes, Paul knew that any faithful church truly seeking to do the Lord’s work would encounter trials of many kinds. When Paul had to leave this church, there was a concern in him that this church he just poured into would crumble under the pressures the enemy was throwing at them and they’d forsake the gospel they just embraced. Timothy was sent to get a pulse of the Thessalonian church, and the result was seeing that this church remained steadfast for the Lord through the trials of satan. This is the reason from our verse that Paul was comforted. That those he invested in were remaining faithful to the Lord. This is an aspect of our walk with the Lord that doesn’t get highlighted often, but can be a tool to encourage us to remain faithful. This chapter reveals to us how when we choose to remain faithful, we are an encouragement to those who spent the time to invest in our walk with the Lord. Think then on all the people who invested in you spiritually. Parents, pastors, Sunday school teachers, coaches, youth group leaders, grandparents…maybe all of these, but maybe the key people who poured into don’t carry any of these labels. What we see from our chapter is a way we can encourage the people who first shared Jesus with us. When we choose to walk faithfully after Jesus, that is a joyous blessing for those who invested spiritually into us when they witness it. When we stay in scripture, when we step up to serve, when we go out on mission, when we speak with godly wisdom; what encouragement such things bring those who shared Jesus with us. Be willing to live such a godly life that you can be an encouragement to the saints who saw you as one worthy to be invested in and shown the love of Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3527

That no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 1 Thessalonians 3:3 – As Christians we can’t hope that our lives will be free of struggle and persecution. If our Savior went through all that He did, why would we expect if we are following His lead we’d face anything different? In fact in John 16:33 He even tells us “In this world you will have trouble.” But why would Jesus tell us that? Why would Paul tell us this as well? So that the afflictions that arise in our story wouldn’t cause us to be surprised and stumble. What we face a Christians, whether it’s friends mocking us or enemies hating us, is a part of the story that God wants us to be aware of. Not that He wants that for us, but He wants us to expect it if we are truly following after Him. So if God Himself knows persecution is coming for you, why should we fear it? Do you really think God would let His faithful follower go through all that without walking through it with you? Don’t let the struggle make you stumble. Expect it to come, but expect even more that God will be with you through every moment of it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac

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. 1 Thessalonians 3:5 – You have an enemy who is trying to tear you away from your walk with God. Here Paul is speaking of the affliction that can come in life and how he was concerned that possibly the enemy had been using this to push his brothers and sisters in Christ away from the faith. Just be aware this is happening in your walk. That there is an actual enemy who doesn’t want you walking in hope, peace, trust, and love. This enemy doesn’t want you sharing the love of Jesus with people. We though don’t have to buckle under the attacks. Like we see in our passage, we can face affliction yet not be stopped from moving forward in our walk. Our choice is whether we lean on the strength God is giving us to move through the future affliction or let it stop us. Just know you don’t have to stop your faithful pursuit of Jesus just because things get hard. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1270

For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. ⁸For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 3:7-8 – Paul had been unable to return to visit in person the Thessalonian church and he was worried that their faith had crumbled as a result of the hardships the church was facing. So he sent Timothy to check in on the church and see if they were still faithfully following after the Lord. To Timothy and Paul’s pleasure, the church had not crumbled due to the struggles it was facing, but instead was growing in faith and love and praying dearly for Paul. What stood out this morning to me was Paul’s line in verse 8, “For now we live.” The church’s steadfastness in their faith, despite the hardships, gave life to Paul and Timothy. It was such an encouragement to them knowing that their brothers and sisters were remaining faithful. Today, please know your faithfulness, especially when it is tested and remains through trials, is such an encouragement to the other believers around you. Your faithfulness is pleasing to the Lord, but it’s also life to the church body around you. As a pastor, seeing those within the flock I’m over faithfully serving, studying scripture, praying, and sharing the gospel is such and encouragement. Yet so is the opposite such a hard blow to take. Know when you are continually saying yes to the Lord, you are continually being a blessing to the church around you. Your faithfulness encourages their faithfulness. Be dwelling on today how your faithfulness to the Lord has been either encouraging or discouraging the church around you. Let each of us strive to have a life of faithfulness that is not only pleasing the Lord, but brings life to our brothers and sisters around us. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2774