1Th 3:10 | KingComments | STEP | . The news with which Timothy came to Paul about the faith of the Thessalonians was a great comfort. Their faith did not only withstand, but it had also increased ( ). He needed comfort, because he himself was in need and tribulation. His need may be caused by the lack of material things. It may also be an inward need, because he was spiritually weighed down, also because he was worrying about the Thessalonians. Also the physical tribulations that he had suffered came to his mind. . How great could the need be for a person to have some spiritual refreshment. And then this news about their faith! What a relief. It was like life flowed back in him. Now he had heard that they were standing firm in the Lord, he totally revived (cf. ). You see that Paul let himself to be comforted. You could also let yourself be comforted like that by the faith of another person. That the faith of the other person still lacks some things, does not have to be a hindrance, as you also see it here. He who does not let himself to be comforted is in danger of becoming embittered. That may undermine the faith life. . Like sorrow is related to death, so is gratitude related to life. Paul was full of gratitude for what he had heard about their faith, but he was not thanking the Thessalonians for their steadfastness. His gratitude went out to God. God had made sure that they remained steadfast through all the attacks of the enemy. In that way he was filled with joy. It was a joy that he experienced “before our God”, which is the presence of God, before God’s face, in fellowship with Him. You experience real heart-felt joy when God comforts you. That is a joy that brings you back to the Cause of your joy. The joy of Paul was so great that he asks himself what he could render to God for that. He does not answer that question. His question actually means that there is simply no gift that is great enough to show God how intensely grateful he is to Him. That says a lot of Paul’s gratitude, doesn’t it (cf. )? Doesn’t that apply to everything that you have received from God? Are you also intensely grateful for that? And aren’t you looking for what you can give Him for that in return? . After this awesome comforting news about their faith, you may think that Paul could leave this subject of care so that he can focus on other churches. But you do not read that here. It only increased his desire for them. He continued to pray that he may visit them. "Night and day” he kept “praying most earnestly” for that. He had exceedingly endeavored to come to them ( ). Now he was praying “most earnestly” that that may finally happen. With ‘most earnestly’ you should think of such a great amount that it overflows the borders in such a way that it cannot be stopped. His heart was overflowing when he spoke to God about his desire to visit the Thessalonians. His desire was not prompted by selfishness. The important thing for him was their spiritual well-being (cf. ). When he was with them, he was forced to depart earlier. Therefore he could not teach them everything that was needed for their faith. ‘Faith’ here is the truth of faith, the content of what they believe ( ), that is ‘the apostles’ teaching’ ( ). Now he wants very much to finish his work with them. He does not do that by himself. He trusts God for answering his prayer, at His time and through His way. It took five more years before his prayer was answered. We may assume that Paul, when he was in Macedonia later, also visited the believers in Thessalonica ( ). God made the letter that he wrote in the meantime, to be included in His Word, so that what is lacking in your and my faith can also be provided. . In this verse God the Father and the Lord Jesus are on one line. They are seen here in there unity. Here you have a wonderful proof that the Lord Jesus is God. They are on the same level and are acting fully in agreement with one another. The will of the Father is never in contrast to the will of the Son; the same applies in reverse. Here it regards the paving of Paul’s way to the Thessalonians. The same goes for you and me. You are allowed to put your way in the hands of Divine Persons. They have the means to pave your way and take away all hindrances. The Father Himself loves you ( ) and the Father Himself is the almighty God. The Lord Jesus wants to use you in His service and will surely pave the way for it. The Lord Jesus is associated with the Father as the Director of the ways of people and especially of His servants. That may give you rest in the way that you should go. . Therefore it could take quite a while before Paul was with them. Up to that moment of reunion he has a wish for the Thessalonians. He wishes that the Lord will let them increase “in love” ( ) and that as a result of that they would be “without blame in holiness” at the coming of the Lord Jesus ( ). These are the two features of the Being of God, for God is light ( ) and God is love ( ). Paul begins to speak about ‘love’ and after that about ‘holiness’. The order is important. When there is an abundance of love you will develop real holiness. Holiness means separation, but with the goal to be dedicated. Separation without love and dedication to God only leads to the legalism of the Pharisees. Wherever there is true love there will also naturally be separation from everything that is in contrast to that one great love. Holiness is to love what God loves and to hate what God hates. Paul himself is abounding in his love for them. That has become clear to them. His love for them must have been an exhortation for them to love one another and also all people in the same way. Love is the hallmark of the life of the Christian. This love does not let itself be limited to an exclusive company of people who are nice to you and whom you therefore like. It is the love of God that selflessly reaches out to every person. That love is poured out in your heart by the Holy Spirit ( ). Due to that you can love every believer and that love can reach out to every human being. . When the love of God has conquered and strengthened your heart, you are able to walk in holiness. John says it as follows in his first letter: “The one who loves his brother abides in the Light” ( ). At the first glance it does not seem to refer to an exhortation to live in holiness. Paul is after all talking about being without blame in holiness “at the coming of our Lord Jesus”. There is no mention of an increase of holiness anymore, is there? But Paul never speaks of the coming of the Lord without it having to affect our daily life. Besides, here it is not about the coming of the Lord for the church. That will be dealt with in chapter 4. You can also derive that from the phrase: at the coming of the Lord “with all His saints”. That is His coming to the earth with the church and the Old Testament believers, after He has caught up the church and all Old Testament believers. Paul points out to the final result of a holiness that should now already characterize us. He who is full of love for the Lord and His own will certainly not allow himself to be related with the uncleanness of the world. Isn’t that already your desire to look more and more like what you will soon be in perfection? It ought not to be a big transfer from our life on earth to our life in heaven. We see a beautiful example in Enoch of this ( ). Enoch walked with God. He was growing therein and lived closer and closer to God. It is once presented that at a certain moment he comes so close to heaven that God says: ‘Come in.’ Do you think a totally different world suddenly opened up for Enoch then? Now read 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 again. Reflection: Consider the relation between love and holiness in your life.

‏ 1 Thessalonians 3:10

Love and Holiness

1Thes 3:7. The news with which Timothy came to Paul about the faith of the Thessalonians was a great comfort. Their faith did not only withstand, but it had also increased (2Thes 1:3). He needed comfort, because he himself was in need and tribulation. His need may be caused by the lack of material things. It may also be an inward need, because he was spiritually weighed down, also because he was worrying about the Thessalonians. Also the physical tribulations that he had suffered came to his mind.

1Thes 3:8. How great could the need be for a person to have some spiritual refreshment. And then this news about their faith! What a relief. It was like life flowed back in him. Now he had heard that they were standing firm in the Lord, he totally revived (cf. Gen 45:26-27).

You see that Paul let himself to be comforted. You could also let yourself be comforted like that by the faith of another person. That the faith of the other person still lacks some things, does not have to be a hindrance, as you also see it here. He who does not let himself to be comforted is in danger of becoming embittered. That may undermine the faith life.

1Thes 3:9. Like sorrow is related to death, so is gratitude related to life. Paul was full of gratitude for what he had heard about their faith, but he was not thanking the Thessalonians for their steadfastness. His gratitude went out to God. God had made sure that they remained steadfast through all the attacks of the enemy. In that way he was filled with joy. It was a joy that he experienced “before our God”, which is the presence of God, before God’s face, in fellowship with Him. You experience real heart-felt joy when God comforts you. That is a joy that brings you back to the Cause of your joy.

The joy of Paul was so great that he asks himself what he could render to God for that. He does not answer that question. His question actually means that there is simply no gift that is great enough to show God how intensely grateful he is to Him. That says a lot of Paul’s gratitude, doesn’t it (cf. Psa 116:12)? Doesn’t that apply to everything that you have received from God? Are you also intensely grateful for that? And aren’t you looking for what you can give Him for that in return?

1Thes 3:10. After this awesome comforting news about their faith, you may think that Paul could leave this subject of care so that he can focus on other churches. But you do not read that here. It only increased his desire for them. He continued to pray that he may visit them. "Night and day” he kept “praying most earnestly” for that.

He had exceedingly endeavored to come to them (1Thes 2:17). Now he was praying “most earnestly” that that may finally happen. With ‘most earnestly’ you should think of such a great amount that it overflows the borders in such a way that it cannot be stopped. His heart was overflowing when he spoke to God about his desire to visit the Thessalonians.

His desire was not prompted by selfishness. The important thing for him was their spiritual well-being (cf. Rom 1:11). When he was with them, he was forced to depart earlier. Therefore he could not teach them everything that was needed for their faith. ‘Faith’ here is the truth of faith, the content of what they believe (Jude 1:3), that is ‘the apostles’ teaching’ (Acts 2:42). Now he wants very much to finish his work with them.

He does not do that by himself. He trusts God for answering his prayer, at His time and through His way. It took five more years before his prayer was answered. We may assume that Paul, when he was in Macedonia later, also visited the believers in Thessalonica (Acts 20:1 ; 3). God made the letter that he wrote in the meantime, to be included in His Word, so that what is lacking in your and my faith can also be provided.

1Thes 3:11. In this verse God the Father and the Lord Jesus are on one line. They are seen here in there unity. Here you have a wonderful proof that the Lord Jesus is God. They are on the same level and are acting fully in agreement with one another. The will of the Father is never in contrast to the will of the Son; the same applies in reverse. Here it regards the paving of Paul’s way to the Thessalonians.

The same goes for you and me. You are allowed to put your way in the hands of Divine Persons. They have the means to pave your way and take away all hindrances. The Father Himself loves you (Jn 16:27) and the Father Himself is the almighty God. The Lord Jesus wants to use you in His service and will surely pave the way for it. The Lord Jesus is associated with the Father as the Director of the ways of people and especially of His servants. That may give you rest in the way that you should go.

1Thes 3:12. Therefore it could take quite a while before Paul was with them. Up to that moment of reunion he has a wish for the Thessalonians. He wishes that the Lord will let them increase “in love” (1Thes 3:12) and that as a result of that they would be “without blame in holiness” at the coming of the Lord Jesus (1Thes 3:13). These are the two features of the Being of God, for God is light (1Jn 1:5) and God is love (1Jn 4:8 ; 16).

Paul begins to speak about ‘love’ and after that about ‘holiness’. The order is important. When there is an abundance of love you will develop real holiness. Holiness means separation, but with the goal to be dedicated. Separation without love and dedication to God only leads to the legalism of the Pharisees. Wherever there is true love there will also naturally be separation from everything that is in contrast to that one great love. Holiness is to love what God loves and to hate what God hates.

Paul himself is abounding in his love for them. That has become clear to them. His love for them must have been an exhortation for them to love one another and also all people in the same way. Love is the hallmark of the life of the Christian. This love does not let itself be limited to an exclusive company of people who are nice to you and whom you therefore like. It is the love of God that selflessly reaches out to every person. That love is poured out in your heart by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5). Due to that you can love every believer and that love can reach out to every human being.

1Thes 3:13. When the love of God has conquered and strengthened your heart, you are able to walk in holiness. John says it as follows in his first letter: “The one who loves his brother abides in the Light” (1Jn 2:10). At the first glance it does not seem to refer to an exhortation to live in holiness. Paul is after all talking about being without blame in holiness “at the coming of our Lord Jesus”. There is no mention of an increase of holiness anymore, is there? But Paul never speaks of the coming of the Lord without it having to affect our daily life.

Besides, here it is not about the coming of the Lord for the church. That will be dealt with in chapter 4. You can also derive that from the phrase: at the coming of the Lord “with all His saints”. That is His coming to the earth with the church and the Old Testament believers, after He has caught up the church and all Old Testament believers.

Paul points out to the final result of a holiness that should now already characterize us. He who is full of love for the Lord and His own will certainly not allow himself to be related with the uncleanness of the world. Isn’t that already your desire to look more and more like what you will soon be in perfection? It ought not to be a big transfer from our life on earth to our life in heaven.

We see a beautiful example in Enoch of this (Gen 5:24). Enoch walked with God. He was growing therein and lived closer and closer to God. It is once presented that at a certain moment he comes so close to heaven that God says: ‘Come in.’ Do you think a totally different world suddenly opened up for Enoch then?

Now read 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 again.

Reflection: Consider the relation between love and holiness in your life.