Paul Wrote Them a Letter (1 Thess. 3:6-8)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5/1/2014 7:53 AM

My Worship Time                                                                          Focus:  He Wrote them a Letter

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                     Reference:  1 Thess. 3:6-8

            Message of the verses:  “6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, 7 for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; 8 for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.” 

“6 But now when Timothy 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: 7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: 8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.”  (KJV)

In today’s SD we will look at these verses from the prospective of Warren Wiersbe and then in tomorrow’s SD, Lord willing, we will look at how John MacArthur looks at it, and there will probably be some similarities in the two commentaries.

When we look at the words “brought us good news (NASB) it is the same words as those when one hears the good news of the gospel.  Paul is saying that this news was as good as the preaching of the gospel to someone.

When we looked at earlier verses in 1 Thessalonians we saw that there was evidence that people were spreading lies about Paul and those who were with him, but now as we read these three verses we can see that the people in Thessalonica did not believe the lies and also they were not defeated by the persecution from those who were actually doing the work of Satan.  This is why Paul was so happy over the news that Timothy brought to him. “ But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.”  (Acts 18:5)  In this verse from Acts we read about Silas and Timothy coming from Macedonia and this is what Paul was saying in his letter, although he did not mention Silas in his letter to the Thessalonians.

As I read through the commentary from Warren Wiersbe I see that it is packed full of information that helps me better understand things in these verses, but other things that I want to share here.  He talks about how Paul had written different letters that are not in our Bible, however these two letters to the Thessalonians are found in the Scripture.  I have heard many times from people saying that they cannot trust the Word of God because it is written by men, and also because it could have been changed from when it was first written.  My answer to this is that since God was able to use men to write His Word as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit as Peter says in his letter, He is able to take care of His Word so that we have an accurate translation of it today. 

Dr. Wiersbe writes:  “The Bible is able to establish us because it is inspired of God (2 Tim. 3:16).  It is not simply a book of religious ideas or good moral advice; it is the very Word of God.  It is ‘profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.’  It has well been said that doctrine tells us what is right, reproof tells us what is not right, correction tells us how to get right, and instruction tells us how to say right.”

He later writes:  “A working knowledge of the Bible is essential for spiritual growth and stability.  God’s Word is food to nourish us (Matt. 4:4), light to guide us (Ps. 119:105), and a weapon to defend us (Eph. 6:17). ‘Thus saith the Lord!’ is our sure foundation.  One reason God has established local churches is that believers might grow in the Word and, in turn, help others to grow (2 Tim. 2:2; Eph. 4:11-16).”

One more thing I want to mention is that Dr. Wiersbe points out that “Every major” doctrine of the faith is touched on in these brief chapters.”  “There are dozens of references to God the Father and Jesus Christ, and at least four references to the Holy Spirit (1Thess. 1:5-6; 4:8; 5:19).  Paul dealt with sin and salvation the doctrine of the church, the work of the ministry, and especially the doctrine of the last things.  Since Paul did not remain in Thessalonica very long, it is remarkable that he taught his converts so much.”

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I had lunch with my pastor a month or so ago and he mentioned that his daughter was going to have to give details on one of the ten doctrines that are in the Bible.  I did not remember the names of those doctrines and was looking for them but could not find them.  I am grateful to the Lord for showing these to me today.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord to again give us safety in our travels as we travel back to our house in Ohio.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “The lied to the Holly Spirit.”

Today’s Bible question:  “Who conspired with the chief priests to betray Jesus?”

Answer in our next SD.

5/1/2014 9:23 AM