Not Just a One Way Street - 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

We turn to God during times of struggle and when we feel that we need him the most. But it’s also during the times when God is most visibly working in our lives and when we think that we can get by ourselves that God wants us to come to him, and we should. Take a moment to read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 and reflect on what Timothy is saying and how Paul reacts.

Verse 6 is Timothy’s report; the Thessalonians are growing healthily, and that they want to see Paul as much as Paul wants to see the Thessalonians again. This is how our relationship with God should be. God wants us to come to him and have a growing relationship with him. That isn’t going to change. But it’s not just a one-way relationship. In this good time that the Thessalonians are in, they have the desire to see Paul, and vice-versa. Our lives should reflect this desire that the Thessalonians have, in a healthy relationship with God, we need to have the desire to seek him and to spend time with him.

From hearing how the Thessalonians are, Paul is encouraged and uplifted, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith” (verse 7). Likewise, we as Christians should be spending time in community and fellowship, sharing with one another how our spiritual lives are. Doing this, we will be encouraged. Take a moment and reflect on your spiritual life. Are you trying to walk this journey alone? Do you have someone to keep you accountable, and if so, is it just something shallow?

In verses 8-13, Paul thanks God and prays for the Thessalonians. He isn’t praying for them as if they have cancer, but because they are doing well and Paul is thankful and encouraged by that. Reread these 5 verses, and take verses 11-13 as a prayer for yourself and others that you have on your mind.

Paul isn’t just giving up his thanks to God though, but he also prays that the Thessalonians’ faith will continue to grow, and that “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else” (verse 12). How important prayer is in Paul’s life should also be how important it is in ours. Now take a moment to pray for those in your life, even those who are doing well, and that prayer would grow or continue to be a big part of your life.