1 Thessalonians 3
v.3
so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.
v.5
For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
Similar to Galatians 4:11.
v.7
Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
I have Yewon and Paul written in my Bible next to this verse. The 2020-2021 school year was a year marked with new beginnings and much unexplored territory for Irvine house church - especially with it being held virtually through Zoom. In addition to this obstacle, Yewon and Paul had many of their own personal hardships this year: disappointments, sick family, lost friendships, etc. Yet, they persevered because they were able to see Him who is invisible. This is why I am encouraged by them. They had faith amidst such trials.
v.10
Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
v.12
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
Cultivating a community increasing and overflowing for one another begins with the leader whose love increases and overflows for them because of Christ’s love overflow in their own heart first. #jj
v.13
May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
Think of the actual circumstances of these Thessalonians; they were living in the midst of idols that could be seen; their Lord was unseen. They were men who had been brought up in the midst of idolatry, worshipping things seen and handled, which appealed to the senses; and they turned to an unseen God. What was the last argument persuading them to do this? The fact that He would yet again be manifested; and that at His Advent there would be the vindication of faith in sight. When they turned to God from idols, they turned towards a restored order, from the disorder in the midst of which they were living; towards the establishment of the Kingdom, from the anarchy in the midst of which they had been living, from the anarchy of idolatry to the Government of God. When they did that, they did it, determining to wait for the Son. Faith acted not only upon the declaration that He has come, but that He is coming again. Faith is a venture which trusts in the first coming, and waits for the second. Thus the second Advent is the final argument producing faith.