Although Paul
and his companions desired to visit with the Thessalonians once
again, “Satan hindered” them from doing so. Their
compassion and care for the church members in Thessalonica filled
them with desire for the people who worshipped there. In chapter two
and verse nineteen of his letter, Paul shared how the Thessalonicans
were his “hope, joy” and “crown of rejoicing”
where we read:
For what
is our hope, or joy,
or crown of rejoicing?
Are
not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
The
verse begins, “For what is
our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?” Paul
began with a question, “For what is our
hope” or “because, indeed, even what is
their expectation and confidence of good” “or
joy” which means “gladness, cheerfulness
and calm delight” “or our crown”
or “mark of royal or exalted rank which is given as a prize to
victors in public games and an ornament of honor” “of
rejoicing” which means “act of boasting
and glorying”. Paul the apostle often used references to “games”
when he shared concerning the Christian walk. In this case Paul saw
the Thessalonians as his means of hope, joy and rejoicing like unto
those within Olympic competitions.
The
verse goes on to say, “Are
not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”
Paul asked
another question which begins, “Are
not you in the presence”
or “in front of, before and in the sight of” “of
our Lord”
which means “he to whom a person or
thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the
title given to God, the Messiah”
“Jesus”
which means “Jehovah is Salvation”
and refers to “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God
incarnate” “Christ”
or “anointed one, the Messiah and Son of God” “at
his coming”
which refers to “arrival, advent and future visible return from
heaven of Jesus, to raise the dead, hold the last judgment and set up
formally and gloriously the kingdom of God”. Paul and his
companions' ultimate reward would be the attendance of the
Thessalonians before the throne of God when Jesus returns to the
Earth to rule and reign in righteousness and peace.
When
we think through Paul's words, we can imagine him thinking about the
Olympic games and the competition that ensues. Paul's desire was to
see the Thessalonians as victors and winners before the throne of
God, and he desired they would participate in the celebration that
will commence when Jesus rules and reigns on the earth. How
passionate are we about others being before the throne of God? Do we
know people we desire to be in the “presence of our Lord
Jesus Christ at his coming?”
Do we care for people in such a manner that we desire for them to be
“victors”? Perhaps our prayer should be to have the Lord Jesus
instill in us the same passion that Paul had for the Thessalonians,
and when the power of His Holy Spirit comes upon us, may we be His
“witnesses” in
this world concerning the “hope, joy and crown of
rejoicing” that may be
obtained.
Next
time Paul writes about the Thessalonians being his “glory
and joy”, so read ahead, and
we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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