The passage we study today starts with a question: “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?”. The earlier verses presented all the suffering of the churches that are in Christ Jesus. This opening question is like asking why do we go through all this? Why do we suffer? Why all this persecutions for the gospel sake? Where do we find the strength to endure? What is our hope and joy in all this?
There are no lengthy arguments and we immediately receive the answer: “Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.” This is a lesson about Christian love. These verses speak about its object: “Ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ”. The church, the God’s people, the saints, in the presence of the Lord.
It is the self-sacrificial love for the bride of Christ, that pushes us to labour in the vineyard. It is the labour of love and the hope that we will see the church in the glory of Christ. This is why Lord Jesus died. He wanted us to behold His glory. He died with you being the object of His love. This is why we have the same love towards the church. To know this love is essential to understand the meaning of the “work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v. 1:3)
Working for the gospel of Christ means building His church and the Apostle gives us an answer how we find strength to suffer persecution in this world. We need to place rightly the object of our love. We follow Lord Jesus. We love Him, He is our first love. But when we love Him, we also love all that He loves. We love the people for whom He died.
“For ye are our glory and joy.” All the suffering that was described earlier (2:14-2:16) is well worth it, when we know it contributes to building the Kingdom of God. We can taste the glory that the church will be robed into. The very glory of Christ Himself. Is it not wonderful?
Here is the heart of a true conversion and of true knowledge of God. It has one inlet vein and it is the love and grace of Christ and its source is Lord Jesus and His work on the cross. It has two outlet veins: love for the lost souls and love for the church. It is ready to endure everything for the sake of the Lord Jesus. It is self-sacrificial and does not boast. It lives and labours for Him.
There is no self. As Christians, we need to die for self. We follow the footsteps of Lord Jesus Christ. We move forward, labouring in the gospel, preaching the Word of God to the world. But we cannot neglect the other vital function of our mission. It is to ensure that all this labour we have done so far is not in vain. We have to look back at the fruit and ensure that what we are building holds fast to the saving and effectual faith. The souls that God has given us will suffer the same persecutions and need to be comforted when required.
This is why the Apostle Paul writes: “Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone”. He is on a mission in Athens, seeking lost souls and preaching the gospel. Yet when he hears about the suffering of the church in Thessalonica, he wants to ensure they stand fast and are fighting the temptations of the tempter. He is ready to be left alone in Athens and to send Timotheus to support that congregation which he built before.
Accepting persecution as part of our life here on earth is perhaps the most challenging aspect of faith and walking with the Lord. We have to fight this temptation to seek an easy life. Be ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of Lord Jesus Christ. Our natural man would like to have the Saviour, without the cross, without the suffering that He endured. However we need to remember that Christ without Cross would not make it possible for us to be saved.
The reality of Christian faith is that anyone who wants to live godly, will suffer persecutions. We are saved by grace alone and our salvation is free. However it does not come at no cost. We need to be aware that eventually we have to give up everything we hold to here on earth. Are you ready for that? A faith that did not cost you anything in your life is just a dangerous illusion.
The cost of your faith can express itself in various forms. It could be an ironic smile behind your back when you speak about God. Maybe it is a pleasure you used to have and gave up on it. Perhaps you had a habit that was broken because you saw it as something distracting from growing in the knowledge of God. It could be an abruptly finished friendship relation. For some it may even be family turning their backs on you or a lost job.
Whatever is the cost of your faith – accept it and be grateful to God. You know your crown of rejoicing awaits you!
Apostle Paul wants to give this comfort to the Thessalonians and this is the reason why he sends Timotheus. Note what a wonderful testimony he gives: “And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith” 3:2. Before Timotheus’ mission’s objectives are outlined, Paul gives him Christian accreditation:
- Our brother. He is your close spiritual relative, your true family. He shares the same faith, in the same Lord. He comes in the name of the Lord. Receive Timotheus as you would receive Lord Jesus.
- Minister of God. Timothy is confirmed as the minister of God. It is a divine calling to build and establish churches and to labour for Christ. You are all called for that purpose to be ministers of God, ambassadors of Christ on earth. You receive different gifts of the Holy Ghost and it is your responsibility before God to seek what is the purpose of your own personal ministry for God.
- Our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ. The final mark of Paul’s accreditation is that Timothy is the fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ. He is proven for he laboured in the gospel.
We are called to continue Christ’s mission here on earth and to seek lost souls. It is an amazing thing to be called a fellowlabourer in the gospel. We can be found in the company of brothers and sisters who are called ministers of God and labour the work of faith. We share the wonderful God’s love and see the growth of the church in God’s glory. This is the driving force that pushes Christians to endure whatever it takes, to see our beloved brethren robed with that glory of Christ. “For ye are our glory and joy”.
The true aim of evangelism is not just to share the gospel. Our work does not end when we see the marks of a true conversion. We have to continue the labour and ensure it is not in vain. This is the role of the church. As you remember, we outlined it before as nursing her children (2:7). Part of that process is to “establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith”. This is the objective of Timothy’s mission. And the comfort is this:
“That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.” 3:3
When you are established in Christ, you will not be moved by the afflictions and by the suffering. We are all appointed thereunto. They are marks of our genuine, saving faith. The world has to reject us and to despise us. It does not know God for it cannot see Him. We have to become separated. The persecution we suffer is part of the process of becoming holy, as holiness means being separated from this world. It can be painful!
But in all this you find comfort in the Lord Jesus Christ, He has overcome the world and He will not put more upon you at any given moment than you can endure. Our eyes need to be fixed on that hope and joy and crown of rejoicing. Our reward is not here on earth, but rather above in heaven, where we see the fruit of our labour in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.” 3:4
This is what Paul preached and what we also need to preach today, for it is the truth. If you follow Lord Jesus, you will suffer. Persecution in the world is part of that message we preach. “We told you before that we should suffer tribulation”. It may be hard to digest. Who wants to hear that when they believe in the gospel they will suffer? Who likes to suffer? Who will be converted if we preach like that?
But we need to remember that conversion is the work of God. By His grace, we are able to speak the truth, but it is the Father who changes people’s hearts, turns their souls to Him and gives the new life in Christ. This new life and hope and comfort that we find in the Lord, the abundance of His grace and mercies in our life and the knowledge of Lord Jesus, is worth all the sacrifice!
How do you know? “We should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.” You suffered the cost, you suffered the tribulation and yet you do not step back from the way of Lord Jesus. You cling to Him ever more for you have tasted this unspeakable joy and glory of knowing Him.
“For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.” 3:5
Paul is not concerned with his own tribulations, for he understands that just as the Lord suffered for us, we are also appointed to suffer in this world. He is concerned about them who are not yet fully established in faith. The afflictions and trials of the church are his worry, that they would cause brethren to backslide.
We live in this world and are in presence of the constant temptation to escape and hide ourselves from everything. Sometimes we want to run away from our purpose and mission, just like prophet Jonah tried. This is the temptation of the tempter, which we need to reject. It would prevail us from coming to the knowledge of Christ, so push forward with the gospel message and preach the Word of God. Love for Lord Jesus and for His church is expressed with your labour and service. It will also produce a genuine concern and hope that the labour would be in vain.
The moment that the church stops labouring is the moment it becomes dead! Be awake. Do not loose your focus from the cross. Stand fast on the Rock of our salvation, on Jesus Christ and the gospel. Do not slip! “Lest by some means the tempter have tempted you.”
Keep on moving the way of faith. Do not give up to the hype and temptation of this world. “Stay home”, we hear a lot these days. It can make us surrender and excused that we can do nothing. There is always some labour to be done in the Kingdom of God! Until the end comes, there is always that lost soul somewhere that needs to hear the gospel.
“I sent to know your faith”. How are you handling that which comes upon you? Do you need some comfort? Here it is: “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.”
I pray that you would stay strong in Jesus Christ and that you would all come to the knowledge of His divine love. Do not be put off by the sufferings and persecutions. Find joy and comfort in them. Every trial of your faith brings you closer to the knowledge of Christ. It is the evidence of God working in you. Come and taste your salvation. Come to God and see for yourself that He is good.
