Every now and again, I will post some little devotionals that I have written on certain passages of the Bible. These devotionals were first written for Faith Community to accompany the weekly sermons. Today's devotional is on 1 Thessalonians 3:1-6 and concerns questions regarding suffering and the Christian.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Is there a time when you saw God deliver someone from suffering? How did the deliverance influence your faith in God’s goodness? Did it build your confidence in God’s ability to care for you?
Paul found that intense pressures and suffering caused him to depend more on God (2 Corinthians 1:9). How do intense pressures in your life affect you? Do you find courage in God or despair? Do you try to make it on your own or trust in God who raises the dead? What does (or would) trust in God look like under intense pressure? That is, what are some steps you can take to trust more in God than in your own power, while you are in the midst of suffering or intense pressure?
Realistically, what do you expect the Christian life to be like? In other words, do you see suffering as an anomaly or oddity in life? Read 1 Thessalonians 3:1-6.
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 God's fellow worker 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 were 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 might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless. 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 (NIV).Paul says in verse 4 that Christians are destined. For what are Christians destined?
In these same verses Paul describes his concern for the Thessalonians. What is it that gave him most concern? What do you think is the link between suffering and wavering faith? How can reflecting on God’s faithfulness to Abraham, Joshua, David, Daniel, Paul, Peter, and ultimately Jesus sustain our faith in the midst of suffering?
Related Biblical Passages for Further Reflection:
Psalm 4, 27, 62, and 121.
Hebrews 11-12
Further
Carson, D. A. How Long, O Lord: Reflections on Suffering and Evil.
Schreiner, Thomas R, and Ardel B. Caneday. The Race Set before Us: A Biblical Theology of Perseverance and Assurance.