Paul received
“good tidings” from Timothy his “beloved son in the
faith” concerning the “faith and charity” of the
church members in Thessalonica. Timothy also bore witness of the
Thessalonians' great desire to see Paul and his companions in the
same manner as Paul and his companions desired to see them. In
chapter three and verse seven of his letter, Paul tells the
Thessalonians how he was “comforted in his affliction and
distress” where we read:
Therefore,
brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and
distress by your faith:
The
verse begins, “Therefore, brethren, we were comforted
over you in all our affliction...” Paul
began with the word, “Therefore” which
is a conclusion word that means “by reason of, on account of and
because” “brethren” or
“a fellow believer which is united to another by the bond of
affection” “we were
comforted” which means “called
to one's side, summoned, admonished, exhorted, entreated, beseeched,
consoled, encouraged and strengthened by consolidation” “over
you” which refers to the
Thessalonians “in all our affliction”
or “pressing, oppression, tribulation, distress and straits”. The
Thessalonians' desire to see Paul and his companions encouraged them
in their oppressions.
The verse goes on to
say, “...and distress by your faith:” Paul
went on to add, “and distress”
or “necessity, imposed either by the circumstances, or by
law of duty regarding to one's advantage, custom, argument, calamity
and straits” “by your
faith” which means “conviction
of the truth especially the conviction that God exists and is the
creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal
salvation through Christ”. Paul was also encouraged in his
“calamities” by Timothy's discovery of the conviction of the
truth in Jesus Christ found within the Thessalonians.
When
we meditate upon these words of Paul, we begin to understand how
spiritual knowledge and experience can supersede physical
“afflictions and distress”.
Although Paul and his companions suffered difficulties and trials
physically, the knowledge of the Thessalonians “faith”
in Jesus Christ was as a balm to their weary bodies. How many times
have we suffered “distress”
physically and had spiritual knowledge arrive that brought comfort
along with it? Have we ever given “spiritual” news to someone who
was suffering afflictions and seen our words become a comfort to
them? Perhaps our prayer should be for the Lord Jesus to help us know
what it means to have spiritual news bring comfort to physical
straits, and when we discover it, let us be ministers of His healing
balm to others who experience “afflictions and distress”.
Next
time Paul tells the Thessalonians how he lives if they
“stand fast in the Lord”, 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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