seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Thessalonians 3:6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
Here's the link to chapter 3 commentary.
That you always have good remembrance of us: Timothy also brought the good news that the Thessalonians had not believed the vicious and false rumors about Paul.
In all our affliction and distress we were comforted: Paul wrote this letter from Corinth, and his coming to that city was marked by difficulty. He said of his coming to Corinth, I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling (1 Corinthians 2:3). Yet since Timothy came back with good news, Paul had a renewed strength and freshness of life (for now we live). It made Paul feel much better that the Thessalonians were doing well.
Churches generally pick up a Missionary Project this time of year. Everyone will purchase something [like toiletries to fill a shoe box] and donate it to the Mission. Apparently, Paul sent Timothy on a Mission and now Timothy has returned with the glorious report of how things went. I've been at churches when the missionary returns and presents the report. It's generally quite interesting. There are pictures. Back in the days of Timothy and Paul, there were no cameras. Timothy had to describe everything in his report. Timothy has a good report! Yay!!!
We always pray for "everyone" to get the Gospel.... Why don't we let gay [eunuchs] sit next to us in church?
We always pray for "everyone" to get the Word.... Why do we insist that people smell right before taking a seat in one of the pews?
We always pray for "everyone" to get the Spirit... Why aren't we happy when a drunk oozing last night's booze sits down in one of the pews?
I saw the first opulent Christmas Commercial yesterday. Extremely rich white folks were decorating a 10-foot tree with so many extremely decadent ornaments, the tree barely peaks through. Their impeccably dressed children were smiling so big their faces might break while patting the perfect family dog and "dreaming" of Christmas Morning. They have so much.... Why would they be "dreaming" of Christmas Morning?
Extremely rich white folk like the ones depicted in that commercial make me ashamed to be a freckled French/Irish Protestant Woman.
This holiday season, will you pick up a present for the "Angel Tree"? Will you throw a toy in the box for the kids who don't have a dad to support the family? Will you stop by the food bank with a donation? Will you at least pray for the families who have no choice but to beg for something to give their kids for Christmas? Or will you be a scrooge, and tell those moms that they shouldn't have had those babies [though you are pro-life] or throw the drunk out of church because he should at least take a bath before presenting himself to Jesus' Salvation?
Timothy's report was glowing. The Mission was a success.
How's your mission going?
