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Scripture reading – 1 Thessalonians 3; 1 Thessalonians 4
* Please note that words and phrases in brackets are the author’s amplification.
1 Thessalonians 3
Though Paul fled Thessalonica when enemies of the Gospel rose against him, he longed to know of their spiritual and physical welfare. Unable to go to Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3:1-2), he sent Timothy, a young man he often called his spiritual son (1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; 2:1).
Paul commended Timothy to the believers and wrote of him: “Our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ” (1 Thessalonians 3:2). Paul’s purpose in sending Timothy was to see how the believers were faring and “to establish [them], and to comfort [them] concerning [their] faith” (1 Thessalonians 3:2b).
That they might not be moved by his afflictions or discouraged by the persecutions they endured, Paul reminded the believers in Thessalonica, “We told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know” (1 Thessalonians 3:4). When he “could no longer forbear,” Paul sent Timothy to know their faith, “lest by some means the tempter have tempted [them]” (1 Thessalonians 3:5).
Paul rejoiced to learn from Timothy, who rejoined him at Corinth (Acts 18:5), that the believers in Thessalonica were abounding in faith and love and longed to see him (1 Thessalonians 3:6). Despite his own persecutions and afflictions, that news stirred the apostle’s heart and strengthened his resolve. Paul wrote of himself and his fellow ministers, “For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 3:8).
Closing thoughts (1 Thessalonians 3:9-13)
Paul couldn’t thank God enough for the Thessalonian believers. His heart overflowed with joy, and he prayed night and day to visit them (1 Thessalonians 3:9-10).
Assuring them of his longing for the Lord to direct his steps to them (1 Thessalonians 3:11), Paul concluded this section of the letter with a loving benediction: “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 [establish; strengthen] your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).
May the same be true for every believer reading this devotional. If Paul needed encouragement, surely we do too. May we all labor to “increase and abound in love,” living in anticipation of “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:13).
1 Thessalonians 4
The latter verses of 1 Thessalonians 4 addressed what would become of the saints who died (“them which are asleep,” 1 Thessalonians 4:13). Lest hopelessness take hold of those who buried their loved ones (1 Thessalonians 4:13b), Paul assured them, “If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). What a tremendous, blessed promise! Yet the promise did not end there!
Paul continued, “We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).
Persecution, rejection, afflictions, and hardships were the immediate reality for the saints. Yet amid such trials, Paul encouraged first-century believers to “comfort one another with these words” (i.e., promises and assurances, 1 Thessalonians 4:18). As the old Gospel song says, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!”
Copyright © 2026 – Travis D. Smith
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The post Looking for the Blessed Promise of the Lord’s Coming! (1 Thessalonians 3–4) appeared first on “From The Heart of A Shepherd” by Pastor Travis D. Smith.
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