Sweet Relief - December 23

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-7 

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. 

Reflect 

Think about the last time you were bracing yourself for bad news. Did you get the bad news you had worried about or were you relieved with good news? 

I hate waiting for news. It can be so stressful. Whether it’s waiting to hear if you got the job or waiting for medical test results to come back or waiting to hear if your loved one pulled through surgery. It is never easy to sit there wringing your hands while you wait. Sometimes, we get the news we dreaded to hear. Other times, we get the sweet relief of good news!  

In today’s verses, Paul expressed his sweet relief that Timothy returned from checking in on the Thessalonians with good news. Remember that Paul had dispatched Timothy to Thessalonica because he was concerned for his children in the faith there. He had to leave them so soon and so abruptly (Acts 17). He made the difficult decision to send his right-hand man, Timothy, so that he could go to them to “establish and exhort” them in the faith (1 Thessalonians 3:2). Paul knew that they were experiencing persecution and he wanted to make sure they were able to stand firm in the truth in spite of the suffering. He had feared the worst, that their labor for them might have been in vain (1 Thessalonians 3:5).  

But praise God! Timothy said their faith was still alive and well. When Paul preached the Gospel to them, they had truly received it. They had sincerely placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We know that sometimes people claim to have accepted Christ but it proves to not be a genuine conversion. For example, Jesus told a parable in Matthew 13:18-23 about His Gospel being like seeds that are sown. Seeds sown onto the path get snatched away by the evil one. Seeds sown on rocky ground never take root and shrivel up when the heat of tribulation or persecution comes. Seeds sown among thorns get choked out by the worries and cares of this world and never bear fruit. The Gospel has to be sown in good soil. A heart that has good soil is soft and prepared to receive God’s Word. A heart of good soil hears the Gospel, understands it, accepts it, and eventually, their faith bears fruit. The believers in Thessalonica had hearts of good soil! 

Timothy also brought good news of the Thessalonians' love. Again, this was evidence that their faith was sincere. Jesus had commanded that His disciples love one another and said that this brotherly love between believers would be an identifying mark of His true followers: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). Jesus also specified what it looks like to love God: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). During his time among them, Timothy must have seen evidence of their love for God and for each other.  

Finally, Timothy reported back to Paul that the Thessalonians “remember us kindly and long to see us.” Given Paul’s abrupt and unplanned departure, Paul could have feared or even heard false reports that the believers in Thessalonica were angry with them or had a poor opinion of them for leaving. Was the brotherly affection and concern mutual? Did the Thessalonians miss them, too? Had they forgotten about them? Were they glad to be rid of them? Sometimes, these are all thoughts that pop into our heads when we aren’t sure where exactly we stand with people.  

What a relief for Paul to know that the believers in Thessalonica were true. They had stood firm in the midst of suffering. They were full of faith and love. Plus, they hoped to meet again soon! They missed Paul, Silas, and Timothy just as much! This was the best news Paul could have hoped to hear and it comforted him immensely to receive it.  

As brothers and sisters in Christ, our faith and love can be such a sweet relief to others. We can comfort and encourage one another in distressing and depressing times. Let’s live so that our faith in God and our love for Him and for each other is plain as day. 

Respond  

Lord, thank You for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am grateful for the comfort and encouragement I receive when I am in fellowship with them. Help me to live in such a way that my faith and love is evident so that I may also be a comfort and an encouragement to those who need some sweet relief in troubled times. Amen. 

Reveal  

Offer a fellow believer some sweet relief by sharing your faith and love with them today.