For now we live
3:1-13; 9/5/2021; BCBC/IOUC; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
What is your view of life and death? Either the materialist people‘s “death is like going out of a lamp”, or you believe in “nothing matters” and think that life is an absurd stage. But after all, you have to explain to life and death, right? Your parents, the playmates who grew up with you, the friendship of classmates, the memories of the childhood friends, the love of husband and wife, the care of children, neighbors, colleagues, etc., are all intertwining your life trajectory. Do you know that the sum of all these is the expression of your view of life? Let us look at the first point:
What about adversity
Paul’s encounter with the Lord on Damascus Road changed his outlook on life. From then on, Paul lived! Can you understand? First of all, the patience can no longer be tolerated. After Paul believed in the Lord, he regarded everything as garbage. He was well-educated. He was taught at the Rabbinical School of the famous Rabbi Gamaliel and became an excellent Pharisee. After he met the Lord, he could not find any other way of life except living for the Lord. He even thinks that “it’s no longer me who lives, but Christ lives in me!” The model of love between him and Christ is also alive between him and the Thessalonian church. It is not convenient for him to go, therefore“ We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ. The inability to endure this kind of patience does not mean the inability to bear the fruit of the spirit of patience, but the feeling of loving each other.
Secondly, what is offered must be offered even more. Paul’s team had left Thessalonica and went to Athens. It is reasonable to focus on the ministry in Athens, right? Especially the “moving style” mission team like Paul has gone through dozens or even hundreds of “mission points” along the way. It is easy to become a situation of “only giving birth but not raising”, will it? The Bible here specifically asks us to turn back, to provide guidance, care, and follow-up for the spiritual body that we have passed through on the gospel road. The difference between spiritual ministry and worldly ministry is the object of responsibility. The former is the eternal God, and the latter is the world to be destroyed. The value of caring for brothers and sisters is forever, and we can continue to put it on even after we have paid for it!
Finally, with ease in adversity. Today, when we heard that Christians were killed in Afghanistan, we scolded Biden, lost our temper, and became anxious. According to incomplete statistics, at least several thousand Christians are killed every year. Thousands of churches were destroyed, and China has “topped” the list of destroyed churches in recent years. How should we view the various tribulations that Christians suffer? Paul’s attitude may make many of us difficult to believe, he said, For you know quite well that we are destined for them. (1 Thessalonians 3:3)
Paul’s calmness is surprising, won’t it? Taking adversity as the destiny after believing in Jesus Christ may discourage many people! Do you still believe in the Lord? If you believe in the Lord, you can no longer get promoted and get rich, you can’t have corruption, you can’t just muddle along, and you have to face and accept adversity calmly! Do you still believe in God? Let’s look at the second point:
Satisfaction in faith
If he cannot overcome adversity, Paul feels that he would rather die! But Paul overcame it ! He knows that our suffering is destined! Why? First of all, we rely on faith! When we stumble in suffering, it is because there is a problem with our faith. The reason to have problems with faith is because we don’t really believe in God! He is omniscient, almighty, all-good, all-beautiful, all-faithful, do you believe it? If you don’t believe it, or if you don’t believe it fully, or if you don’t know the meaning of faith, of course you will not be able to go through adversity! Paul did not suffer tribulation when he was in Thessalonica, but he had already told his brothers and sisters in advance: ”We would be persecuted! After he left Thessalonica for Athens, he told them, “ And it turned out that way, as you well know. Paul’s calmness stems from his faith in God! Why do we believe? We do not know! Why do you still believe it even though you don’t know? Because this is grace!
Secondly, we experience the faith. Have you ever thought about why we believe? We do not know! Why do you believe even though you don’t know? Because this is grace! Why is it possible to believe without asking if it is confirmed as grace? In fact, we are all familiar with this law, right? As soon as a baby is born, God uses the instinct to feed us to build up trust and faith between us and our mother! Faith cannot be merely a metaphysical concept, it must be experienced! You must have courage to experience! Of course, courage is not blind, but requires a certain rational basis! Faith with a rational basis produces faith, and faith without a rational basis degenerates into superstition!
Finally, we pass on this faith. Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica for the purpose of “To strengthen and encourage you in your faith.” Then, Paul could stand it no longer, to find out about your faith. Until Timothy came back, “. he has brought good news about your faith and love! Do you know what Paul is doing? He is witnessing and setting an example for faith, and he is also passing on faith. Paul himself not only believed, but also passed on the faith to brothers and sisters in the Thessalonian church! Paul believes that the essence of the fellowship between brothers and sisters is to pass on faith in the Lord! This is why Paul would say: Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. Let’s see the third point:
It is life to love one another
Have you discovered that Paul’s structural theology is still faith, hope, and love, right? It’s just that he first talked about hope in adversity, then about satisfaction in faith, and finally about loving each other. First of all, love is not prohibited by law. If you want to use one word to summarize the first and second Thessalonians, it is love! The lines of this book are full of love, Do you agree? Paul loved the brothers and sisters in Thessalonica church, and he loved it to the point that he couldn’t bear it anymore. And it’s time and time again and can’t bear it anymore! There is no fear in love, God is love, and there is even no legal restriction in love, and there is no need for patience. Of course, the foundation of love must be in Christ, in the truth of the Bible. The purpose of Paul’s love is to strengthen the faith of the brothers, and to comfort each other by faith!
Secondly, love is the circulation of life. But don’t underestimate Timothy’s visit to the Thessalonian church. This seems to be a trivial matter. This is the flow of life in loving each other! Now that the church is gathering on Zoom, can you show your face? The news Timothy brought back greatly encouraged Paul. Why? The details of the Bible say: He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you! It is obviously God’s will to see each other and want to see each other! You can see the pastor every week, but the pastor wants to see you too! The circulation of love allows our lives to be everlasting, like flowing water, rather than a pool of stagnant water.
Finally, love is a bridge for growth. Although love is the nature of God, the Bible even says that God is love! God has commanded us to love one another, and it has also been commanded to express it. It seems that love can be expressed unilaterally without being influenced by the other party. Just as God died on the cross for us when we were still sinners, so we know what love is! right! Yes, we know what love is! However, our love need to grow! then this requires us to love one another! Paul said: May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. Between God and man, and between man and man, love must grow through loving one another!
Conclusion
Well, in this way, for now we live! There is hope in adversity, satisfaction in faith, and growth in love, and then we live! Are you alive?
Let us pray……
