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| Macedonia capital-Modern Thessaloniki. Source: http://wn.com |
Today I did a slow read of three chapters in 1 Thessalonians (a New Testament letter to believers in Thessalonica, Greece), using Revised Standard Version of the Bible with my iPad/Kindle app. I used highlight, dictionary, and note-making features, a treat for a note-taker like me. I noted text repetitions of "brothers and sisters, "imitators/imitation," and "do more and more" living in Christ and in the face of persecution as they were. Paul and the others taught, in this letter, a pattern to follow: remaining faithful to Christ in the midst of suffering--harsh and deep stresses to force them to give up faith and to forget, I think, the strength of Christ in their life together. I see in this an emphasis on the fundamental help of togetherness in Christ.
I reflected on the words and at one point wondered why Paul, Silas (Silvanus), and Timothy described themselves, at least by one writer--possibly Paul--as"orphans." The word-definition feature in Kindle books informs that the Greek for "orphan" strongly suggests being "outcast," which is to be without the provision and protection of others. The servants of God to the Thessalonians felt deeply their inability to stay or be with the Thessalonians as God led them.
God's servants can feel orphaned due to any forced separation from other believers. In the U.S., where I live, I think we face this in less dangerous conditions than in other parts of the world. In those toughest of places, dear brothers and sisters, we know that you may feel cut off, and we long to assure you of our concern for you; our faith leads us to pray for you, and your faithfulness prompts us to pray more, due to the contests and conflicts you face.
Outside the sharing fellowship of the Thessalonians, the servants of God gave no glossy or weak spiritual cover for their condition or their feelings. They were not proud, but were humble. God had provided protection and other needed things by way of faithful Thessalonian believers that were prospering in faith, not longing for material goods. The servants sent to encourage them were pulled away in different ways and they expressed in letters the longing and deep affection they held for those brothers and sisters in Christ.
We often long that there will be times of renewed encouragement and building up in person, when the Timothys and brothers and sisters like the Thessalonians can meet and share that indescribably precious spiritual communion among the saints.
In every tribe and nation are the continuing gospel movements within hearts and minds to bring new individual and fellowship connections of faith in Jesus Christ. Across cultures and languages hearts change and lives are transformed through the gospel of Christ that is shared in the midst of times calm or dangerous. The gospel never ceases to move in God's divine ways.
I never cease to marvel and be thrilled by these features of life in Christ, for we see how love expands and grows--apart from anything human power could devise or do. Christians give thanks to God, and pray that all new brothers and sisters will accept the provisions and protections of God, guarding their souls against enemies of their faith. Staying in touch, as this letter of Paul and his co-workers, feeds our growth as roots of faith grow deeper, stronger, and more fruitful.
In the U.S. we see today's need--and perhaps this is happening elsewhere--that all pretexts used to cover greed must be guarded against, with divine help and discernment. The apostle Paul, preaching under hardship, emphasized his aversion to this, along with his unwavering love, gentleness, care not to burden others, and freedom from pretexts in the face of opposition to the faithful. His words were welcomed, although at times hard to hear and follow for, as taught in this first letter to the Thessalonians, mortal beings needs guidance, encouragement, and help.
Pretexts should not be used to cover greed of any kind. This is another clear message from this New Testament letter. The trust in God that Paul wrote about thrived through the "imitation" of good actions of fellow-believers, including those who encouraged. They abhorred flattery and loved sincerity.
I was one accused of flattering someone when I was encouraging another person. I allowed the charge to inhibit my encouragement of others and to plant doubts about myself--until I realized a while later that a flatterer assumes that others' encouragements are only pretexts to serve the flatterer.
This may be similar to some contests you face now. I find that the emphasis on Christian warmth, caring, and fellowship of 1 Thessalonians 1-3 reaches out to strengthen us. We are in the minds and prayers of, and among, the saints, seen and unseen.
This is a good starting point in this year, finding nuggets in timeless scripture.
