1 Thessalonians 3

Jim introduced me to this new um....bible study aid, that's the word I'm looking for. It's called e-sword. It's makes doing bible study a wee bit easier. You can download various commentaries and versions of the bible and all sorts of stuff. I can even do my study over there, print off stuff, do a really copy and paste thing, and it's just neat. :) Not sure yet if I can do different fonts and stuff, but I figure I can do my study on that, and then copy it over here and use fonting that I might like better. One of the things that I like, is that if there is something in a commentary that is relevant to the passage this little exclamation mark will show up on the tab. Means less searching and more study. :)

So anyways, go check it out. It's a neat little tool. Free to use much of it, but one can pay for stuff on it too if you so desire.

Today we start the next chapter in 1 Thessalonians. Chapter three:

1Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5For 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.

6But 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— 7for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

11Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Paul says, Folks YOU ARE LOVED! See, even when I was forced to leave you I couldn't bear not knowing how you were doing so I sent Timothy to you. Upon his return he eased our minds in regards to you telling us how things were going. I am comforted! Thanksgiving I return to God for this. And then he prays for them.

Isn't that a neat little chapter?
It does make me think that perhaps the Thessalonican people were starting to think that Paul didn't care about them since he was gone for so long. But Paul hurries to remind them that

1. he does care
2. he was forced away from them
3. he had told them previously that this might happen because trials and afflictions come to all
4. he sent Timothy to them because he couldn't bear not knowing what was going on with them
5. he was comforted when he heard the news of them
6. he prayed for them

Paul loved these folks. He wanted the best for them. He longed to know what was happening with them and found a way to keep in touch. Pretty cool I think. :)