Out of our intense longing

1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 (TNIV) -

17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?

20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

1 Thessalonians 3
1 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we are destined for them.4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.

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 had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.
6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you.7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?

10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

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.

My thoughts -

Yesterday we read Paul describe his relationship with the church in Thessalonica in terms of family dynamics (children, father, mother, brother, sister). We also get a familial description today. This one, however, hurts a bit. Paul describes the physical separation from the church as having "orphaned" them. You can feel the desperation in his language. He has an "intense longing" to be with them and can "stand it no longer". And yet, though it appears a visit is imminent, he's still writing this letter to them from afar. Timothy has been able to check in on the Thessalonian church and has reported back to Paul, but Paul has still not been able to make it.

Paul warned the Thessalonians that they would suffer. Paul, unfortunately, is all too familiar with suffering. He tried to prepare them but no one can fully be prepared for that kind of hardship until they experience it for themselves. The Thessalonians may even have ignored Paul's warning believing that their faith would insulate them. The shock that this belief was wild eyed optimism could have shattered their faith. And Paul can only hear accounts from afar. Imagine his relief when he hears that this precious church family has stayed strong in their faith in the face of great suffering, persecution, and even death.

So Paul is proud of this, his church family. They have stayed strong. And he longs to be with them just like we would long to be with a close family member who is going through hardship. When my cousin Michael passed away I couldn't get to Georgia fast enough. We had to wait though. There were logistics involved. There was packing to do. There was work to be completed. Quite honestly there wasn't much I could do for the family even when I got there. But my family was suffering and I longed to be there. We long to be with those we love in times of trouble. Our hearts ache to be with them and to love, strengthen and encourage them. Even if, on a practical level, there isn't much we can do there is still ministry in our presence.

Paul longs to be with these people that he loves. He longs to strengthen and encourage them in this trying time. He also longs for them to be with each other and to grow stronger in love together. Look at his wish for them again:

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.

In trying times all we have is God and each other. We need to cling to the hope that we have in Christ and love each other, strengthen each other, and encourage each other. We, the body of believers, are family. We need to love each other like family, especially in trying times.