In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out about your faith.
~ 1 Thessalonians 3:4-5 (NIV)
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(NOTE: When I wrote this this morning, I believed that Paul was in prison in Athens, based on some of the Thessalonian text. But now I'm not exactly sure. So please forgive if this is in error. I'm sure some of my scholar friends will help me out...:-)
Many say that Paul was very "Type A", a driven man without many social graces, and not much of a people person. Even in reading this passage, one could assume that he was more concerned with convert "numbers" and his evangelical success than he was about the people themselves.
But I beg to disagree with those who paint Paul as rather cold and driven only by his penchant for preaching. Later on in this chapter, he talks so lovingly about these people, so anxious to see them and encourage them in their faith in the Lord. Yes, he was driven to serve his Master by telling the gospel message. But he also loved the people God sent him to minister to. And these coupled passions made Paul think not of himself while holed up in a stinking Greek prison, but was rather so concerned for the Thessalonian church, that he chose a measure of loneliness in prison by sending his spiritual son, Timothy, to find out how they were doing. His concern for their faith was more agonizing that whatever he was facing in prison. Wow, what a display of Christian love and focus! And when Timothy got word back to Paul, he experienced great joy in knowing that these beloved people were growing in their faith in the Lord and in their love for other people.
Joy in prison? See, that speaks to me, because we are often so focused on our own trials, that we have a hard time concerning ourselves with other people and God's mission. Paul is an example to us of one who had truly denied himself and taken up his cross, of one who was completely committed to the cause of Christ and love for his "flock". Nothing else seemed to matter. Not shipwreck, beatings or prison. His mind stayed focused on the mission and the people. Some of his letters (like this one) to churches, as recorded in Scripture, were written from a prison cell. The devil didn't get a foothold on this man, despite many attempts.
I pray that we can commit our heart and mind fully to the work of the Lord, honoring Him in how we live, praying diligently for believers in their spiritual walk, and sharing with those God puts in our path about His love and redemption plan. May He grant us the power to think not of ourselves and our afflictions, but rise above those earthly trials and see the glory of God's big-picture plan and purpose and how we fit into them.
Like The Purpose-Driven Life book opens with -- it's not about us...it's about Him. May we know the divine joy of seeking His plan and purpose in the midst of this earthly life, with all it's difficulties and hardships, by His power and love.
Love,
Joelene
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