“But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?” (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10).
Introduction
There are several missionary magazines which relate the plight of Christians in Communist, Islamic and Roman Catholic controlled countries. Though we might read about the terrible things these believers are undergoing for the sake of Christ, it encourages us to know that they are determined to live for the Lord even if it costs life itself. Affliction and suffering are not cause for joy, but enduring faith is.
Enduring faith
When Paul heard that the Thessalonian Christians were continuing in the faith, despite the persecution that they were suffering, his heart rejoiced. On the natural level it does not make sense that a person could be comforted by the knowledge that those he loved were suffering. On the spiritual level it makes sense, because such endurance reveals that the suffering believers were true Christians. When Paul writes, “For now we live”, he is saying that he is spiritually refreshed when he learns that fellow believers are standing firm in the Lord and are not compromising their faith to ease their pain. “How tender his affection for them if he could say that good news from them filled him with new life!” (The People’s New Testament). “Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved” (Philippians 4:1).
Comforting those who suffer is simply sharing the comfort we have received from God. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Thank God!
Paul praised God for the persistent faith of the suffering believers. Before he had learned about their endurance he was beside himself with worry (see 1 Thessalonians 3:1), but now his heart overflowed with thanks to the Lord as he remembered them daily in prayer.
Do we remember to pray for the persecuted believers throughout the world? Do we remember to pray for those amongst us who are suffering? It is a sin not to! “God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23). We can pray that they would remain strong in their faith in Christ. “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). Praying for the faith of others is illustrated in the words of Christ Himself, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:31-32).
Mature faith
The apostle could not wait to see them again to build them up further in the faith. The word “perfect” is in relation to maturity in Christ, it can mean “to adjust, equip and furnish.” The word is found in the Greek text of Mark 1:19, “He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.” This suggests that no believer is beyond the need of teaching regardless of how strong he thinks himself to be. “So St. Paul did not know that they who are once upon the rock no longer need to be taught by man” (John Wesley).
No doubt his letters to the believers in Thessalonica greatly encouraged them. In the past the ministry of sending letters to the persecuted in foreign lands was a source of comfort and joy to them. Just as Paul’s letters were smuggled to the faithful, so to letters and gifts reached Christians incarcerated in KGB prisons.
Conclusion
It is not enough just to teach Bible truth to others; we must also support them in prayer and with words of encouragement. No one’s faith reaches perfection in this world, because we are always growing in the knowledge of the Lord. The faith of each one of us is being transformed day by day as we continue walking steadfastly with Christ. We are all growing “from faith to faith” (Romans 1:17), therefore let us not be forgetful about praying for one another and other believers in distant lands. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
© 28/2/2008