1 Thessalonians 3:1-2
1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith,
Why is there so much nail-biting in these verses? Paul says, “when we could bear it no longer…” twice in 5 verses. He’s got a concern for these people that is hard to pin down if it isn’t based on love. He doesn’t get any monetary value from them and his message is bearing fruit all over without the testimony of the Thessalonians. So why the angst?
It does boil down to the way God has constructed His mission to go forward. Paul felt an intense love for the people he served. The Christian mission doesn’t plod along through personal discipline or cut an impressive figure through proud arrogance. We are propelled by love. And so much greater is love that it melts these piddling motivations like a popsicle in the summer sun. Who are you pursuing for God’s Kingdom through love today?
Prayer prompt: Lord, propel me to work with the vigor of Paul by teaching me to love people.
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