How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. (1 Thessalonians 3:9)
There are people in our lives who give us joy.
I’m writing this while on a trip to work with and encourage new followers of Jesus. They are eager for help, and learning, and teaching. They live in a place that is not open to the Good News. I’m trying to imagine what it is like to be them, immersed in that not-so-friendly situation day after day, and really not aware of global networks of like-minded encouragement of Jesus’ followers. They don’t know about the latest books, or seminars, or who the ‘star preachers’ are. They don’t listen to recorded messages or take online classes or know the words to the latest and greatest contemporary Christian music. They don’t go to Sunday night church, or fellowship groups, or Tuesday morning men’s breakfast. They step forward day by day, with others who have secretly confessed to following Jesus, and figure out how to walk by faith in a place that doesn’t want them to!
There must be some parallels we can draw with the early spread of Christianity, which is the context here in which Paul is writing. The Roman government was not kind to those known as Christians (did this sect worship a rival king?! Caesar is not going to take lightly to that.) The numbers of fellow believers was small, and in many geographical places, the number was zero. They didn’t have libraries of teaching materials or seasoned veterans of the Scripture who could walk with them and disciple them. No praise and worship leaders.
Paul stepped forward to offer his encouragement and teaching, particularly at the time of this text, by writing. However, the believers there also encouraged him. These believers at the Roman colony of Thessalonica gave Paul joy. They had encouraged his heart, and lifted his spirit. He expressed to them his appreciation.
Their teamwork and mutual encouragement gave him reasons to give thanks. Who are we thinking of today who have done that in our lives? Who are the people that now cross our minds about whom we say, “I have great joy because of what they have done!” And when we think of them with joy, we give thanks to God—God has brought them into our lives and used them to bless and encourage us to keep moving forward in our faith walk.
“Father God, thank you today for the ones now that I’m naming before you. I give thanks to you for them—they have helped to lead us into your presence and have encouraged us on our walk with you. What a blessing! And, we lift up those today who have minimal connections in this faith walk. They are being persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Please comfort them. We give you thanks for their testimony and determination to follow you.”
Freddy Boswell 