The Troubles We Expected
In 1 Thessalonians 3:1-4, Paul recounts that his work had been met with many troubles, extending to prison and beatings at the hand of government officials and his fellow countrymen alike. Paul realized the he couldn't be in multiple places at once, and, knowing that, taught disciples diligently so that they could be sent out to continue God's work in places where he could not reach. Timotheus was one such individual that Paul sent to the church at Thessalonica to establish the church on a firm foundation and to give them comfort both in their own trials and that Paul wasn't giving up the faith due to his trials either.
Paul was made aware of some of the problems he would encounter by the Holy Spirit and let the believers at Thessalonica be aware of these things, in addition possibly to some of the trials that they would face themselves.
In the United States, Christians have led a relatively sheltered life of late. Granted, there have been persecutions. There have been churches burned to the ground, mostly for racial issues. I'm not sure whether several groups who are filled with hate have actually read the Bible, or even the gospels, because if they had, they would be ashamed to call themselves Christian.
But still, compared to Nigeria, for example, US Christians are generally safe. We may be made fun of or mocked for our beliefs. We are frequently held up in ridicule, and sometimes when we've been hypocritical about something, it's deserved. But people aren't generally coming to burn our homes and take our women and children away to be raped and sold into sexual slavery and have our men killed. So we are lucky. The tribulation period will be hard on all new Christian converts everywhere.
But the reality is that it is easier to be a Christian when there isn't active persecution. On the other hand, when there is active persecution, those who choose to follow after Christ have a stronger incentive to live as He wants us to live, perhaps, than in places where it is easier to blend in and only really show your faith on Sunday morning.
Paul knew what he was suffering through. He knew from God what the church was suffering, and he was concerned that they would give up and lose their way. He didn't just pray - he did something about it. He sent people to investigate and strengthen what might have been slipping away, because he cared.
Even Leaders Need To Be Encouraged
In 1 Thessalonians 3:5-11, Paul continues, saying that when his worry reached his limits, he had to send a messenger to ensure that all was well. He was well aware of the temptations that Satan was throwing his way to give up the fight, stop preaching, stop witnessing, knuckle under to Rome, and avoid the prison and probable death that awaited him. Since Rome was in control of most of his known world, he was aware that those same worries would be affecting the church members at Thessalonica.
When word returned via Timotheus, telling Paul that the church was prospering, and that the members were strong in faith and were helping each other in love, wishing that they could see Paul or that Paul could come to them, it gave Paul peace and comfort that all he had worked for was not in vain.
Paul declared that he could live through all that Satan and Rome could do to him if the church at Thessalonica could stand strong in the Lord. He prayed that he would be able to once again travel and see them in person, in order to perfect any problems they were having in faith.
It is always good to hear about the lives of missionaries today. To hear of the Christian impact on other cultures, to hear a message of hope spread where there was despair or just dead spirits is wonderful. The missionary doesn't have to be on foreign lands. Hearing about what is happening in poor areas of our own cities and on college campuses is equally uplifting. But I do think that this passage also brings to mind a real need that most laborers for Christ have. They need to hear and know that what they have done for God is going strong and hasn't been destroyed by man or supernatural forces.
Hearing of the continued success of his work helped Paul to survive the struggles he was going through. I suspect it isn't any different for the many pastors and missionaries carrying on the work of Christ today. It is always good to hear that you work has not been in vain.
There are many laborers for Christ today who will not know of the true success of all they have done until they get to heaven. On the internet, for example, you can go to great lengths to try to figure out whether people are reading what you've written. But it gets increasingly more difficult as the swarms of AI bots join the search engine bots trying to suck up all available text to try to give search results or create AGI. And even if you know someone has read what you've written or heard what you've taught or preached, to know for sure if you have changed their heart and soul for the better, or even if they say you have that that change will last, is a hard thing.
But we all need to realize that those working for God to spread the gospel aren't any different than we are. It's nice to hear that you've made a difference, if you actually have made one. Praying is great, and we should all pray more for those working for Christ. But sometimes telling them directly can give them a boost to continue when times are tough for them, when Satan is attacking, when those who are against Christianity are attacking, or illness or financial hardship is real. Encourage those workers who have made a difference.
Hope For Those To Whom We Ministered
In 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13, Paul finishes this thought with is continued hope that all those he has in any way ministered to will continue to grow in God. He wants them to have hearts filled with love that flows out toward each other Christian, but also to the world around them, even as his heart was filled with love for them.
Love is never easy. I'm pretty sure that the Christians who are currently suffering persecution as mentioned above, will not find it easy to love those who are persecuting them. And yet that was what Christ expected of his followers. Read the Sermon on the Mount and think about the high standards Christ set for Christians. Turn the other cheek. If you lose a case at law, go above the judgment in settling the case. That kind of love takes a special work of the Holy Spirit in a person to make happen. Look to Christ if you aren't sure if you are capable of that level of love. He gave up His divinity for a time, came down and was eventually tortured and crucified to provide a free and easy means to reconcile mankind to holy God. That's love in action.
In addition to love, he calls on the church to live a life of holiness before God so that when Christ comes, they would be ready and acceptable to Christ. That challenge didn't die with the early church. All Christians are called to that same level or higher of holiness. Since we are all human, we all struggle at times with God's standards. But we are all called to try to do our very best to live out our lives as God would want us to do.
To end up with a life that nobody can blame you for is an ideal we all should look up to. Living that good life isn't enough to save you. You can't get to heaven just by being good. But if you are a Christian, you will be far more likely to make someone else want to become a Christian if you are trying your best to lead a life that Satan can't point out flaw after flaw to God. Be a better Job.