1 Thessalonians 3:6-10
Timothy’s Encouraging Report
“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— 7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?”
As we read through the book of 1 Thessalonians, it is interesting to note that the word ‘faith’ is used only once in the first two chapters of this book. But in today’s passage, 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10, we see the word used three different times. Faith has become the Apostle Paul’s primary focus. In this paragraph, we see the primacy of faith from Paul’s perspective. There is (1.) the good report of one’s faith, (3.) the comfort of seeing one’s faith, and (3.) the desire to build up one’s faith. Since Paul says he wants us, believers, to be imitators of him in 1 Corinthians 11:1 and in 1 Corinthians 4:16-17, let’s look more closely at these three perspectives of faith and see how we can imitate the Apostle Paul by building up faith in others!
First, beginning in verse 6, there is Timothy’s good report of faith. Remember how Paul explained, in chapter 2, why Timothy, a dear brother in Jesus Christ and a man of good rapport among believers, was sent by Paul to the Thessalonians because he was so quickly torn away from them and they were being persecuted. In light of their persecution, Timothy was to remind them that they, as Christians, were to expect persecution during this life, just as Jesus promised. Timothy was to encourage and exhort them so their faith fails not when the tempter comes. Here in chapter three, Timothy returns and tells Paul about the persevering faith of the believers in Thessalonica. As the spiritual father of these disciples of Jesus Christ, I am sure the Apostle Paul is elated and filled with joy hearing that the church is still healthy and functioning. Timothy must have told Paul everything he saw and learned. They are still meeting together and serving Christ! They are studying the Scriptures to learn about the promises, attributes, and character of God! They are growing in holiness to be like Jesus! They are using their spiritual gifts to build up others to be mature and practicing disciples too! They are going out and making disciples of Christ and baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! They are helping the widows and orphans and others who are in need! And they are looking forward to the return of Christ! Additionally, the Thessalonians loved Paul and longed to see him again. This news thrilled the very heart and soul of the Apostle. This reminds me of Proverbs 25:25, which says, “Good news from a distant country is like cold water for a weary soul.” We as Christians today must long to hear and to tell others how Christ is glorified in our affliction too, and that is a good report of faith!
Additionally, in verses 7-9, we see how this good report was a comfort to Paul. Paul was persecuted and barely escaped death as Luke said in Acts 17:1-8. The rioters came into the home of Jason “And when they could not find them [Paul and Silas], they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also” (Acts 17:6). What an amazing account of the faith that brought so much joy and comfort to Paul. The Thessalonian church was turning the world upside down for Christ! Yes! this did cause havoc to the non-believers who were bringing so much chaos and confusion to the city. Nevertheless, the persevering faith of believers, in spite of circumstances, is the reason for joy and comfort. Paul continued to share his heart and said that he can live because they are standing fast and secure in their faith. Paul is so overwhelmed with thanksgiving for God and His protection and presence in the lives of these believers. It’s as if Paul cannot comprehend or communicate the extent of the joy he has for what he is hearing! Praise God! What a blessing! For us today and as a thought, being “blessed” is hearing how others are persevering in their faith during difficult times; and “blessing” others, could be us telling others how our faith is sustained and persevering during our times of affliction as well. For example, a dear sister in Christ who was the wife of one of our pastors at my church gave my wife a devotional book written by Joni Eareckson Tada, who is a quadriplegic and living a full life for Christ. My wife at that time was suffering from cancer and could not read the book by herself, but she enjoyed it when I read small sections to her each day. We are blessed to hear about the faith of others. It is encouraging and God is blessed. Therefore, in all things, share what God is doing in your life in spite of afflictions. All for the glory of God!
Finally, in verse 10, there is Paul’s desire to come back and visit the Thessalonians so he may be able to add and help build their faith in anything that is lacking. In John 11:33-36, Jesus was moved with great emotions when He saw the people grieving because of Lazarus’, His friend’s, death. The Jews said, “See how he loved him!” In the same way, we can read and see how Paul loved the believers in the Thessalonian church. This love caused Paul to pray earnestly for them, night and day. He prayed that he be able to visit them and see them face to face again. And when they are reunited, maybe and hopefully, Paul can teach them something that lacks in their faith. That is true love!
In this passage, we see the Apostle Paul’s heart of compassion for believers in the Thessalonian church. Paul was with them only a very short time. But the results, for the glory of God, were amazing! Praise you, Jesus! This church was healthy and thriving under persecution. This church must have been growing. And why? Faith made the difference. Today, so many Christians do not put a priority on faith, a true Biblical faith. Faith is not something that we, as mere humans, can muster up with our own efforts. Faith is not man’s acceptance or some token of action on our part so we may brag, “I am saved because I did this!” The Bible clearly states, being saved is being “born again” as said in John 3:3. In the prologue of John’s gospel in John 1:11-13, it says, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Faith is all from God, or not at all. For example, consider this, Christians do not turn the world upside down. We are not anarchists and promoting tyranny. All we have is the God-given faith for His glory alone. It says in 1 John 5:4, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
So, what can we do? We must be born again! Not by the will of the flesh or by the will of man, but by the will of God for the glory of God. I love very old Christian hymns. In a precious hymn called, He Lives! it says, “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!” We must be born again! And with our God-given faith, we are to be steadfast in our affliction and trust God who is able. In this way, we also can turn the world upside down for Jesus Christ and all for the glory of God!