1 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 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.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Paul’s love for the believers in Thessalonica made it hard for him to be apart from them. He had been driven off sooner than he wanted to leave. He got to a point where he couldn’t bear it any longer and sent Timothy to go and help establish the church. Paul wanted to make sure their faith was well-grounded and that they would not be moved by the afflictions they faced. He had previously warned them that they would be persecuted for their faith and it was happening as predicted. Paul was deeply concerned that every believer lived a life that bore fruit. If that didn’t happen then he considered his work to be in vain.
Just like the parable of the sower (Mark 4:3-8), Paul wanted the seed he had sown to be growing on fertile ground, not choked by the weeds of their afflictions. He wanted all believers to grow to produce a harvest of thirty or a hundredfold. How is the soil of your heart? Is the seed of the gospel in your heart growing up into fruitfulness or is it battling to grow well? There are people around you who, like Paul, want to see you grow to spiritual maturity. Reach out for their help especially when you face challenges as you grow.