A Father‘s Joy | English Devotion | NHFCSG

A Father's Joy
1 Thess 2:17 - 3:5
From our previous devotion, we understand that Paul`s desire was to meet the church again in person. But he was hindered. 
Paul understood that this was Satanic hindrance. But he had faith and knew it would only be a short time until he can overcome the roadblocks.
Paul assured the Thessalonians that he could never forget them because they were his glory and his joy. 

#1 Our Glory and Joy 
Paul considered the spiritual maturing of these believers in Thessalonica and other places he has invested in their lives for growth towards maturity. 
Even in our lives, when we invest our time into the lives of other, we will glow with joy that we have achieved through changes in their life. 
We will receive the crown of glory 1 Pet 5:2 – 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away  
Perhaps Paul would say that he didn’t need a crown in heaven those whom we bring to Jesus and disciple are a crown of victory for us.

Paul wanted to be with the Thessalonians during their time of trial, since he could not go, he decided to send Timothy who was a trusted companion and fellow worker with Paul.

Paul wanted Timothy to do two things – to establish and encourage the Thessalonians. 
#2 Establish them in faith
 Paul wanted Timothy to teach them the great realities their faith rested upon. 
The coming of Jesus, his life and ministry, his death upon the cross.
His resurrection, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and thus the availability to them of a new resource in God that the world could not know anything about. 
 If the Thessalonians did waver in their faith, Paul would consider his work among them to have been in vain. 
In the parable of the soils (Matthew 13:1-23) Jesus described the seed that withered under the heat of trials. 
If the Thessalonians withered, Paul’s hard work as a farmer among them would have born no harvest.
 
The Thessalonians needed to be established in that truth, and that was Timothy's mission.
#3 Encourage Stability 
The church needed to be exhorted to steadiness, to not panic when things got tough. The church should never forget that suffering and hardship could be overcome. 
Some believe that affliction means God is angry at the believer. The truth is that affliction means that God loves us enough to give the best when we may only desire what is easy. 
The symbol of Christianity is the cross, not a feather bed. Affliction is just part of following Jesus; therefore, Paul recognized that Christians are appointed to affliction.
Paul realized that the faith of the Thessalonians might crumble under this season of affliction, so he sent Timothy to both check on them and to help them. 

Through this, the Thessalonians were established and encouraged; they would not be shaken by these afflictions.
Dear brothers and Sisters 
Are we willing to be like Paul to quickly act for the sake of someone else who might not backslide because of some afflictions? 
Satan will want to exploit the season of suffering in your life to give up. 
Without a good understanding of the truth concerning suffering in the life of the believer, we are in great danger of being shaken in our faith.
When hardship abound us, are we being weakened in our faith?  Stand firm for God is with us (Jer 1:19). When we know our foundations are strong, we will not be shaken. 

Let us Pray 
Heavenly Father, Help us to be grounded in your faith and establish ourselves form that we will not be shaken in times of afflictions. Thank you for your crown of Glory. In Jesus name. Amen.