1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 says...
Today's verses are 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20, which read,
v.17 - But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while--in person, not in spirit--were all the more eager with great desire to see your face.
When Paul was in Thessalonica, the Jewish leaders opposed him like they had opposed Jesus. They wanted to do away with him. A man named Jason stood in for Paul and was actually roughed up instead of him. Paul made his way out of town to Berea. It was a hasty departure and Paul wishes that his stay could have been longer. Paul was forced to orphan these new Christian children to use his mother and father illustration.
v.18 - For we wanted to come to you--I, Paul, more than once--and yet Satan hindered us.
Paul knows who he is dealing with. It isn't just the opposing Jewish leaders but it is Satan himself. Satan is behind and fueling the persecution of Christians and also the hindrance of the spread of the gospel. He was a reality then and he is a reality now. Satan works within our society and also within our churches if we allow him to. It is amazing how many times it is spoken of that Satan was in the church, the very place that God is to be glorified.
v.19, 20 - For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.
What is Paul, Silas, and Timothy's hope, joy, or crown of exultation? That they would see the members of the Thessalonian church standing in the presence of Jesus at His second coming. It is not Paul's only hope, joy, and crown of exultation but it is one of them and it is something to rejoice about. Seeing people introduced to Christ, invited by Christ, instructed in Christ, interned with Christ, and installed for Christ. Paul is seeing and hearing and rejoicing that the Church, even in the face of persecution and his absence, is standing strong in the Lord.
I have often thought of how to elevate this in the church. Paul is jumping up and down and running the victory lap over what is happening in the church. He can't contain the joy about his spiritual children standing for Christ. I fear we have made our faith such a private matter that any public display of it is frowned upon. We cheer for things that have not eternal value and we are silent about the things that do. As Paul would say, "Let it never be."
"Lord, what joy Paul has for the Thessalonians. May we as a church consider what we rejoice about. May we elevate our joy when it comes to someone coming to You through Your directed efforts through our church. All of heaven rejoices and may we also when it comes to someone seeing You for who You are. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.17 - But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while--in person, not in spirit--were all the more eager with great desire to see your face.
When Paul was in Thessalonica, the Jewish leaders opposed him like they had opposed Jesus. They wanted to do away with him. A man named Jason stood in for Paul and was actually roughed up instead of him. Paul made his way out of town to Berea. It was a hasty departure and Paul wishes that his stay could have been longer. Paul was forced to orphan these new Christian children to use his mother and father illustration.
v.18 - For we wanted to come to you--I, Paul, more than once--and yet Satan hindered us.
Paul knows who he is dealing with. It isn't just the opposing Jewish leaders but it is Satan himself. Satan is behind and fueling the persecution of Christians and also the hindrance of the spread of the gospel. He was a reality then and he is a reality now. Satan works within our society and also within our churches if we allow him to. It is amazing how many times it is spoken of that Satan was in the church, the very place that God is to be glorified.
v.19, 20 - For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.
What is Paul, Silas, and Timothy's hope, joy, or crown of exultation? That they would see the members of the Thessalonian church standing in the presence of Jesus at His second coming. It is not Paul's only hope, joy, and crown of exultation but it is one of them and it is something to rejoice about. Seeing people introduced to Christ, invited by Christ, instructed in Christ, interned with Christ, and installed for Christ. Paul is seeing and hearing and rejoicing that the Church, even in the face of persecution and his absence, is standing strong in the Lord.
I have often thought of how to elevate this in the church. Paul is jumping up and down and running the victory lap over what is happening in the church. He can't contain the joy about his spiritual children standing for Christ. I fear we have made our faith such a private matter that any public display of it is frowned upon. We cheer for things that have not eternal value and we are silent about the things that do. As Paul would say, "Let it never be."
"Lord, what joy Paul has for the Thessalonians. May we as a church consider what we rejoice about. May we elevate our joy when it comes to someone coming to You through Your directed efforts through our church. All of heaven rejoices and may we also when it comes to someone seeing You for who You are. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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