Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens; and we sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions. Indeed, you yourselves know that this is what we are destined for. In fact, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer persecution; so it turned out, as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labor had been in vain.
But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love. He has told us also that you always remember us kindly and long to see us—just as we long to see you. For this reason, brothers and sisters, during all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith. For we now live, if you continue to stand firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
5-13-20 Devotional
I'll let you in on a pastor-secret: there are some people we don't actually like all that much.
I know, I know, I probably broke some professional code just by telling you that. I'll let you know if the clerical authorities come lock me up.
But it's true. There are some folks that can just drive us pastor types up the wall (don't worry, it's not you). Just like there are, I'm sure, pastors and leaders that make your skin crawl (I'm assuming not me!).
And you know what, I think that's okay. Personalities clash. We don't all see things the same way. You think The Last Jedi was garbage and I think it's probably my favorite Star Wars film. Whatever. It's fine.
Not enjoying someone's company, however, is not an excuse to not respect someone. To not treat them as the imago Dei, an _eikon,_God's image and hand-crafted human being.
Paul is fortunate in that the Thessalonians are a church marked by faith, love, endurance, and joy. Paul is eager to get back there to continue teaching and discipling this young church.
But you know what - Paul is also just as eager to get back to Corinth, the church that drives him nuts! He writes one of his most sophisticated letters to the Galatians, a church that has completely lost their way. He longs to go to Rome and teach the churches there - people he has never met before.
As we encounter people in the church - people who lead us; people we will lead - it's inevitable that we won't all be the best of buds. That's unrealistic and probably not really a goal worth pursuing.
But what I think is worth pursuing is everyone looking out for everyone else's good. As Paul will write in chapter 5, "Always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else."
Apply
Think of someone who you just don't like all that much. You wouldn't invite them over to game night. You would come up with an excuse to not hang out with them. Is there a small way that you could look out for their good today?
Pray
God, I thank you for each person you put into my life,
even those people who make me a little annoyed that they're alive.
Spirit, nurture and grow within me a love and respect of all your children, that when they meet me, they would know the love of God a little bit more.
Amen.
Notes (sick day — NIB-derived)
Sick again today; substantive interpretive moves below belong to New Interpreter's Bible unless flagged as my own.