The
Thessalonians had received the word of God as though it was from God
Himself rather than men, and they became followers of the churches in
Judaea even though the Jews located there had “killed the Lord
Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted” Paul and
his companions. Paul declared them to be so harsh, they forbad them
“to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved” and
the result was “to fill up their sins alway”. Paul
assessed, “for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost”,
and in chapter two and verse seventeen, Paul shifted his thoughts to
the idea of wanting to “see” the Thessalonians' “face”
where we read:
But we,
brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in
heart,
endeavored
the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
The
verse begins, “But we, brethren, being taken from you for
a short time in presence, not in heart,...” Paul
began with the words, “But we”
which is a disassociation conjunction that means “what is about to
be stated takes precedence over what was just written” and refers
to Paul and his companions, “brethren”
which means “fellow believers which are united to another by the
bond of affection” “being taken from you”
or “bereaved or separated as of a parent or parents” “for
a short time” which means “for
a certain and definite time or season fixed by natural law and
returning with the revolving year and due measure such as the seasons
of spring, summer, autumn and winter” “in presence”
or “with the physical face, countenance and look” “not
in heart” which means “the
soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts,
passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes and endeavors”.
Though Paul and his men were physically away from the Thessalonians,
in spirit they were with them all the time.
The
verse continues, “...endeavored the more abundantly to see your
face with great desire.” Paul added, “endeavored”
which means “to hasten or make haste and give diligence to” “the
more abundantly” or “in greater degree, more earnestly and
more exceedingly” “to see your face” which means
“perceive with the eyes, notice, discern and discover them in
person” and refers to the Thessalonians “with great desire”
or “with much craving, longing and concupiscence”. Paul desired
once again to see the Thessalonians and was purposed to do everything
he could to fulfill that passion.
When
we think through these words of Paul, we cannot help but notice
Paul's deep care and concern for the church in Thessalonica. The
people there were so valuable to him that he craved and longed to see
them once again. This is interesting to think about when we relate it
to his former life when he was “breathing out threatenings and
slaughters” against the church. Only the Lord Jesus can put
this kind of love in a person, and it is enjoyed after receiving
Jesus as Lord and Savior as well as being filled with the Holy
Spirit. Paul and the men who were with him demonstrated this Godlike
kind of love toward the Thessalonians, and perhaps our prayer should
be to love others as Paul loved these church members, and should we
find ourselves coming up short in putting value upon seeing them, may
the Lord fill us with His love that we may love others as He loved
us.
Next
time Paul writes concerning “Satan”
hindering he and his team, 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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