1 Thessalonians 3 ~ we have been comforted about you through your faith

1 Thessalonians 3


Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker^[servant]  in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 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.

6 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,^{[brothers and sisters]} 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?

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 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.


All the joy we feel, for your sake, before our God, praying earnestly. Now. That is excellent Scripture. The Joy of the Lord is our Strength. 

The Holy Spirit is seeking to establish and strengthen us. Good news of faith, love and kindly longing to spend time with us. To comfort us. Knowing, like my grandmother Anita, life can afflict us. We will stand fast knowing, God directs us to establish our hearts in holiness and we should increase and abound in love for one another.

People. People are both easy and hard to love.  Easy in regular times and more difficult to love when we are being jealous, or being looked down upon.  Difficult when we or the ones we love go through difficult times. Pushed out for lack of effort. In our larger colleges and cities, we can decide to move on the next person, with ease. Some of our richest friendships, and most lasting, come from disagreements worked out. The ability to understand where the other person is coming from.  People in smaller communities know, the endurance, the determination not to pass by creates the most loving of communities. To apologize when we offend. To push instead of agree silkily. 

One of the nicest things about Christian Community, people will tell you what they think. One of the worst things is the same. The determination to allow ourselves to not become so self-important to not be corrected. Bounce. Filter. Do we deserve what was said, yes, improve and be glad. No, then make allowances for forgiveness ~ we Know we are Freely Given Forgiveness for flaws, sins and mistakes. Making room in the community for new faces and old friends.

Recently I mended an old quarrel just with (help from the Holy Spirit, I am thin skinned) continued determination to be kind. And that rebounded. I was miffed indeed. Only to go forward, almost with an inner grit to discover that in giving more, enabled that person to feel loved and to bloom. The forgiveness did flower. To see people work past difficulties is actually sweeter fruit than the easy, smeezy highway.


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

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