We all like good news. In our world today it seems to be a rare thing. Maybe it is how we look at the things we are told, what we value and deem as good. We get excited over ballgames, new stuff, and promotions. All of these things are temporal, and we enjoy them, but the news of a win on the football field should not excite us like the salvation of a soul. Nothing should give a Christian more joy than the transferring of one’s citizenship from Hell to Heaven. Now that’s good news.
In I Thessalonians 3:6, Paul sent Timothy to the church at Thessalonica to check on them and find out how they were doing. Paul was overjoyed when Timothy returned with a report that their faith was strong. Christians were still being persecuted by the Jews so the news of strong faith and strong love for God, and the people of God was very encouraging. It was good news to Paul’s ears. They also showed their love for Paul and Timothy by speaking of the good memories and how they longed to see them.
I Thessalonians 3:6 “But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:”
Paul valued this news so much that he expressed it as a comfort to him. Paul was suffering, but the good news of their continued faith and love seemed to balance his discomforts. In verse 8 you can almost feel the new breath of life this news brought to him. He says “ now we live” In other words my worry about you is over, and my joy is full because you have remained faithful and grown in your walk with the Lord. He is so overwhelmed with this news of their walk with God, so much so that he can hardly express his thanksgiving to God. Words were not enough to show how he felt.
I Thessalonians 3:7-9 “Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;”
Have you ever had a burden for someone so intense that you prayed for them throughout the day? In the night you would wake up and your first thought was the burden you were carrying so you continued in prayer. This is where Paul had been, and now he is rejoicing that not only had God heard his prayer, He answered. After he rejoices, he gives them instructions to increase their love toward each other and all men. He is telling them to keep on keeping on. He wants them to stand before God one day as a faithful servant, ready to hear God say “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
I Thessalonians 3:10-12 “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”
The testimony of these Christians should be our testimony when others hear about us. They should be like Paul, rejoicing over the good news that we are being faithful and growing in our walk with God. So much of the time, Christians get into a habit of working for the Lord. The joy is lost because it is nothing more than a task to be done. This is so wrong. Every day we need to examine our walk with the Lord and correct the errors that have crept in. No matter what our circumstances, we have much to rejoice about. Our salvation gave us a new today, where we can work for Him from the gratitude of our hearts. Our salvation gives us a new future, where there will be no more sorrow or pain and we will be with Jesus in perfection. With our past behind us, we need to press forward serving, loving, and sharing the best news ever of salvation through Jesus. It’s good news when a person changes their destiny, but that news will one day be topped by hearing our Savior is pleased with how we have lived our lives. If this is our focus and passion, we too will one day hear Him say “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
I Thessalonians 3:13 “To the end, he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. “
Matthew 25:21 “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
