Difficult Separations - December 18

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18

But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.

Reflect

Have you ever had to abruptly leave behind people that you love? What were the circumstances? Were you ever able to reunite with them?

It is difficult to be separated from people who are special to us. But it seems like the separation is much tougher on our hearts when it is a sudden, unplanned departure. We often lament not getting to say goodbye. And other intended words are left unspoken.

That is the kind of separation that Paul had with the Thessalonians. In Acts 17, we read that Paul, Silas, and Timothy came to Thessalonica after they were miraculously sprung from prison. Paul spent three Sabbaths in the Jewish synagogue there, reasoning with them from the Scriptures and preaching the Gospel which many Greeks and some Jews accepted. But it seems like no sooner had their preaching successfully established a group of local believers there that the jealous Jewish religious leaders were at it again. They stirred up another angry mob which attacked Jason’s house looking for Paul and company.

We don’t know much for certain about Jason from Scripture except that he was a local believer and that he hosted Paul, Silas, and Timothy while they were in Thessalonica. Because the authorities couldn’t find them, they dragged Jason and some other local believers out of his house to stand before the city officials. This was their accusation: “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus” (Acts 17:6-7).

In order to get out of this pickle, Jason had to pay them a “security.” Once Jason and the other brothers were free of the authorities, they hurried to rush Paul and his companions out of town that very night under the cover of darkness (Acts 17:9-10). It is likely that they didn’t even have time to say goodbye to all of the brand-new believers in Thessalonica. Paul undoubtedly had much more to teach them about the Christian faith. They certainly were not expecting to have to leave a brand-new church with brand new believers behind to fend for themselves to soon.

That is why, in today’s verses, Paul expressed how painful it was to have been torn away from them and how much they longed to see them again. Paul also indicated that they had made plans to get back to Thessalonica but they hadn’t been able to. They’ve been hindered by Satan. We don’t know their exact plans to go back and we don’t know exactly what Satan’s strategy was to block them. We just know that, thus far, Satan had been able to foil their plans.

So, Paul longed to see them again. Remember how Paul cared for them like a spiritual mother and a spiritual father (1 Thessalonians 2:7,11). As the one who shared the Gospel with them, he viewed them as his spiritual children and desperately wished he could see them again so he could continue to “parent” them and help them grow in Christian maturity.

You see, the church of Christ is our family. That is why brothers and sisters in Christ may seem more like family than nonbelieving brothers and sisters by blood. The apostle John demonstrated this by repeatedly referring to believers as “children” or “children of God. For example, “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…” (John 1:12-13).

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we need each other. We are precious to each other. We should all be concerned for one another because we are family. And when we are apart, it is only right that we should long for each other’s company..

Respond

Father, thank You for my brothers and sisters in Christ, especially for those so dear to me it is difficult to be separated from them. Help us to remain united in You, loving one another as You have loved us (John 13:34).

Reveal

Like Paul, take some time this week to reconnect with a brother and sister in Christ that you are separated from. Reveal the love you have for them as a sibling of God and give them biblical encouragement.