A Faith Strengthening Love from Afar
Beautiful feet arrived at the metropolis of Macedonia. The Apostle Paul, along with Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy, preached the truth of the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles there at Thessalonica. A number of both Jews and Greeks received the Word of God (1 Thess 2:13). God gave this increase — a church of new believers appeared as good soil which had received the implanted Word of life (Jn 6:63; Jas 1:21).
The missionary team warned the new believers in Jesus that trouble would be sure to follow (1 Thess 3:3). God orders the testing of His people, who suffer afflictions of various kinds. In this, Christians join the sufferings of Christ, being His body of people (Col 1:24). When the tree suffers the stormy winds and cold of a cruel winter…it is stronger for it.
Persecutions against both the missionary team and the new congregation ensued. Escaping the looming trouble from civil authorities, aided by envious members of the local synagogue, the team’s hasty departure troubled Paul. His concern about the church’s opinion of them, for eluding the maniacal pursuit by religious fanatics, haunted him (1 Thess 3:1).
Sending the apostolic envoy, Timothy, was the best strategy after Satan hindered the whole team from returning (1 Thess 2:18). Timothy went to strengthen the faith of the church of the Thessalonians, being dispatched from the vicinity of Athens. After a brief stay, the young pastor/missionary traveled 220 miles south to Corinth, meeting up with Silas along the way back to Paul, who was beginning his 18-month stay there in Achaia.
Timothy brought “good news” from the beloved brethren. Their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope was made known to Paul (1 Thess 1:3). The Thessalonian believers expressed their great love and appreciation for Paul and the team (1 Thess 3:6). They had received Timothy’s encouragement by his very presence and continued teaching. They sent him back to Paul in the same way the apostle had sent his protégé to them…with a faith strengthening love.
The current of love was on a circuit that served to enliven both parties (1 Thess 3:8). What joy there is when love abounds in the unity of the faith (Ps 133; Jn 17:11). When separated it spurs the spirit of reunion. The church wanted the team to come back and the team longed to be there with the brethren (1 Thess 3:6, 10).
Whether Christians dwell together in unity in the same location or apart from one another, they share the same Spirit. Mutual love is complemented by mutual sufferings. We endure and persevere together. Regular presence and reunion both serve to refresh the body of the church. Preachers are emboldened when the prospect of enlivened saints is the reward for gathering together. Absence, however, makes the heart grow even fonder.
No doubt, Paul redeemed the time with those new church plants because trouble was looming and the time for teaching was short. Today, is the day for Gospel preaching and the teaching of salvation! Thus, Paul and the team earnestly prayed, night and day, without ceasing for the next ministry encounter with their children in the faith.
The goal of Christian correspondence, so vividly displayed by the New Testament epistles, was to increase knowledge of the truth (2 Pet 3:18), so to increase the faith of the recipients of the letters (Lk 17:5). The same goal was meant for reunions: to complete what was lacking in their faith (1 Thess 3:10). This, of course, would improve their Christian living!
There is an economy of supply and demand in Christ’s church. New believers need the nurture and admonition of the truth from God’s Word, taught by called men of God, entrusted with the stewardship of the Gospel. These men need to study to show themselves approved as capable teachers of the Bible (2 Tim 2:15). They are suppliers of Gospel truth for those God has predestined to be recipient of His Word.
When a famine for the Word of truth occurs in a church (Amos 8:11), the problem can be on either side of the economy. People in the church who have grown lax in spiritual disciplines are often victims of the dearth of quality suppliers. They need to become reacquainted with the power of God unto salvation and the joy of when they first believed. Someone with beautiful feet and the Word burning in their bones must be sent to them (Jer 20:9; Rom 10:15). Revival begins in the heart of the preacher whose daily refrain is, “Woe unto me if I do not preach the Gospel!”
Faith comes to one of God’s elect the first time, by hearing the Word of God preached by the messenger sent to an individual or group of hearers (Rom 10:15–17; 2 Pet 1:1). Faith building comes again and again in the same way. Faith increases, grows, matures by regular and repeated exposure to God’s Word explained and exhorted by the Spirit-filled slave of Christ on a mission from God. His assignment is simple: preach the Word (2 Tim 4:2).
The discipline of submitting oneself to regular doses of Gospel proclamation is to fire-up one’s faith. God graces the hungry hearers with a tasty Word for their souls. They feast on the goodness of God without cheap fillers like comedy; politics; philosophy; or psychology. “Just tell us the truth about Jesus Christ,” is the plea of the starving saints.
May God direct your steps to a lover of God’s Word of truth, who is not ashamed to proclaim it in season and out of season (2 Tim 3:16); or may God direct that Spirit-filled man of God to you. Of all the things we ought to pray earnestly for and/or give thanks to God for…let this be very high on our list.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
August 12, 2023
