It's Good to Be Together (1 Thessalonians 3:6-13)
This week at Grace, we'll be continuing in our series on 1 Thessalonians with 3:6-13. It's a warm paragraph, where Paul expresses his affection and gratitude to hear how well the Thessalonians are doing, as well as his prayer for their continued growth in faith.
I wonder how often any of us hear, "You're doing really well in faith. Keep it up."
And if we do hear that, I wonder if we'd be able to take it in. Would we minimize it, thinking, "If only they knew..."? Or get lost in a comparison game? Or just squirm at the pridefulness of it all?
I'm looking forward to Sunday so we can dive into this passage together and delight in God's work in the Thessalonians and in you.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
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?
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.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13