Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 339

December 5;      I Thessalonians 3:10;       185/260(III);        ‘Love & Care’

1 Thessalonians 3:10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?

In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul lists all of the things he suffered for the ministry.  At the end of the list, he shares his daily concern for the churches he has established as an apostle.  Evidently the church in Thessalonica was being persecuted and Paul was greatly concerned for them.  Paul desired eagerly to go to the congregation, but was hindered.  In Paul’s great concern, he sent Timothy to see how they were doing.  Timothy returned to Athens, where Paul was and gave him good news of the faith and love of the church and their desire to see Paul again.  Paul tells us that when he heard the report from Timothy he was greatly comforted, in spite of the trials he was experiencing.  As in all of Paul’s letters to different churches, his love and concern for them is so evident.  Paul, as incredibly busy as he was, always prayed for the churches.  Here, in this verse, Paul is praying that he can return to Thessalonica and be with the church.  Being ministry minded, he not only longed to see them, but he wanted to continue teaching them in order to mature their faith.  Paul teaches us in Philippians that he had learned that in whatever circumstances he found himself in, to be content.  He had been through and continued to go through trials and persecution.  In spite of all of this, Paul continued to be an example to us of being far more concerned for others than for himself.  I know that because of his concern for others, the Lord always anointed Paul and helped Paul.