Continuing our study
of 1st Thessalonians…
Scripture: 1st Thessalonians 3:10-14
Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Thought for the Day: This small section is thought, by many scholars, to be a prayer of sorts. Paul started this section by claiming how he had already been praying earnestly, but then with the words, “Now may our God…”, a litany prayer was offered. Though God is referenced in the third person, it sounds a lot like a Benediction that might be heard at the end of a worship service: Now may the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you… (based on Numbers 6:24ff). In this prayer found in 1st Thessalonians, Paul desired to see the community increase and abound in love. There is a double emphasis here, with a double purpose— Paul hoped they would increase and abound not only among themselves, but also to the ends of the earth (all people). I’m reminded of Rev. Glen Miles who spoke at our most recent General Assembly about this love extending to all people, and that all means all! Paul recognized that to move beyond their comfort zones and traditional beliefs around who was in and who was out, it would take a love from the Lord, a love that would increase AND abound. Of course, this was the same love that had originally reached out and included the Thessalonians.
Then Paul set a high ideal: to be blameless before our God. For some, those words may be intimidating. For others, those words may in fact cause a paralysis of their faith. “I can’t do it, so I won’t try.” But Paul always seemed to set phrases like this in a larger context where God’s mercy and love were joined with strength and encouragement (words found earlier in this chapter). Any striving toward a blameless life is done in partnership with God, and both success and failure are continually surrounded by love and mercy. We try! No Excuses! And when we try, we have a God who journeys with us every step of the way…no matter if those steps are forward or backward.
Prayer: I’m here to celebrate your love, O God and Father, and I seek your help so that such love increases and abounds in all that I say and do. Amen.
THIS SUNDAY
ONE SERVICE
10:30am
Ordination of John Frey
A Great Day In the Life of Our Church!
