Thoughts for the Day

We sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions. Indeed, you yourselves know that this is what we are destined for. In fact, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer persecution; so it turned out, as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you, and that our labour had been in vain.

But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love. For this reason, brothers and sisters, during all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith.'

(Church in Wales Lectionary, from New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The letter to the Thessalonians was apparently written by St Paul in around AD 50 when he was in Corinth, and both he and those in Thessalonica were suffering persecution for their beliefs. He is very worried that their faith might have crumbled, when he sends Timothy to them. However, the report is good, despite what they are suffering they have kept firm in their resolution.

Our faith can be bright and we can bowl along quite happily, until adversity happens. This can be anything in today's world that affects us or those we love, and at this point we wobble - or our faith does! It can happen to the strongest of all Christians, and it can particularly happen when we are living on our own strength, thinking we can manage everything perfectly well. In other words we have forgotten to lean on God.

Heavenly Father,
all too often when things are good,
we continue happily in our own strength,
but when difficult times occur,
we can fall apart.
Help us to keep close to You,
particularly at this time,
so that we can rest in Your strength,
if things change.
Amen.