1 Thessalonians 3:1-13
1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
6 But now when Timotheus 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.
9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, directa our way unto you.
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.b
The special purpose of the next movement in his letter was the strengthening of the Thessalonians in their sufferings. Their "work of faith" had brought them into a place of service which entailed suffering. In this connection, the apostle makes personal reference to having sent Timothy to them, while he was left alone in Athens. Whereas Athens was a burden on his heart, his love for the Thessalonians prompted him to this action. Timothy had brought him a message telling of their "faith and love that filled him with gladness." In view of this loyalty he again referred to the great light of hope, the coming of the Lord, praying that his way might be directed to them, and that they might abound in love.
Thus in the midst of their suffering the apostle's words flashed on them the light of that glorious moment when character would be perfected, and the stress and strain of the process pass into the perfect realization of a glorious result. At the advent of the Master all the aspirations of the believing soul toward perfection of character would be realized and fulfilled. Toward that glorious finality all present life should move, and waiting for the Son which creates the "patience of hope" is thus seen to be the most profound and potent inspiration to holiness of life and character.