Friday 21st February
Read 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5
“So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labours might have been in vain.” (NIVUK)
Some believers assume that faith in Jesus means that all will be well in their lives. They read the promises in psalms that those who trust in the Lord will be rewarded and conclude that is the end of the story. If troubles then befall them it must be a lack of faith on their part. Perhaps they have to give more or pray more?
Such unsophisticated ‘proof-texting’ approaches to the scriptures do immense harm to the faithful. The scriptures encourage an open-eyed assessment of reality, an interaction with the world based on the way it really is. We see an example of this in today’s passage. Paul longs to provide strength and encouragement to these new believers because he knows what is coming their way, he has experienced it himself, and he warned them that trials are the expected experience for believers.
Paul wants to model not just godliness and hard work for the Thessalonian believers, he wants to model strength amidst trouble. For he knows what Peter knows, that… “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:5-9) (NIVUK)
