“For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.” 1 Thessalonians 3:5 ESV
Reflection: how can our faith in Christ be challenged?
It can be real hard to figure out and stay focused on what is important these days. Actually, it seems to be getting harder to stay focused on anything. Not that there are lack of topics to focus on. On the contrary, there seem to be new stories almost daily, that could turn out to be important in some way. In every sector of society, across the world. So much so that it is overwhelming, if you try. But, in a way, I am wondering if this is by design. That all the stories are in a way “noise”, to keep people preoccupied with a bunch of unimportant things, to lose sight of what truly matters. Which begs the question for each of us to think about – what are you paying attention to? Or, said in another way,
What really matters to you right now?
When Paul wrote the first letter to the Thessalonians, him and his missionary team had left for Athens which is not too far from the city of Thessaloniki. But, although they had spent a lot of time and effort there, to preach the gospel and establish a church congregation there, Paul became very concerned about how they were doing, specifically how their faith in Christ was doing. If the seed of the gospel they had planted had taken root. If the people there had started following Jesus as the way, or, as we see in our focus verse, “somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.” 1 Thessalonians 3:5b ESV. Had the small, fragile seedlings made it, or withered away? It was eating at him, to a point where he sent his closest and most trusted companion Timothy to check on them. But, do we know anything more specific Paul was concerned about?
If we look back in chapter 2, we read “For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!” 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 ESV. The early christians in Thessaloniki experienced an all out persecution, just like the Christians in Judea, as we see in the first chapters of Acts. Their faith was really being tested.
Timothy came back with a glowing report about their faith showing growth, and good fruit among these early Christians. “But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:6-8 ESV. It is amazing to read about the work Paul and others put down to spread the gospel, and how it took hold among the early Christians despite all the persecution and suffering. We see their faith in Christ through their deep love and affection for each other, to help and strengthen each other in the faith.
And, it makes me wonder what our “faith report card” would look like, if Timothy or Paul should visit. With all the noise in the world trying to take our attention, are we being swayed by the tempter, to make it easier for ourselves living in this world? Or is our faith in Jesus firm, and observable through good fruit, as the early Christians in Thessaloniki?
