Good Morning Friends,
"Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 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." (1 Thessalonians 3:10-13)
Paul had three prayer requests related to the Thessalonians:
He asked that God would clear the way so that he could visit them again. Paul enjoyed his relationship with the Thessalonians, and most of the other churches he had opportunity to serve. He longed to be able to come to them and help them continue to grow in the faith. He wanted to be with them, not for what he could get from them, but for what he could give to them.
He asked that God would help their love increase. He longed for them to love each other more. It wasn’t that they were having problems with each other, but there is always room for growth in the love that exists between brothers in the faith. But Paul was concerned about more than just how the church got along with itself. He longed to see their love grow for everyone, other Christians around the world, and those who were not yet a part of the church. Love is a hallmark of a relationship with Jesus Christ. He works in our hearts to turn them away from just thinking of ourselves to thinking of others, too.
He asked that God would strengthen their hearts in order that they would be prepared for Jesus when He comes again. No matter how strong they were in the faith, how mature they had become, Paul knew they could not rest where they were. God’s continued work in their hearts was needed. And that’s true of us, too. None of us has arrived at the spiritual place where we can take it easy and no longer be concerned about growth and strengthening. God’s work will not be done in our hearts until we’re done with the world.
His, by Grace,
Steve
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