◄ What Does 1 Thessalonians 3:13 Mean? ►

Paul was deeply concerned for the spiritual wellbeing of all who trusted Christ for salvation. His first epistle to the Thessalonians included important information for their ongoing, spiritual development. He prayed earnestly for the Thessalonian believers: "That the Lord may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints."

Paul longed that the Lord would undergird these dear saints, strengthen their inner man, and establish each one firmly in the faith. His desire for them and for us, is that all believers are found both blameless in their walk and holy in their conduct before God the Father on that glorious day when Christ Jesus returns to set up His kingdom on earth, with all of His holy ones.

He had recently received an encouraging report about these believers through Timothy, who brought good news about their developing faith and the spiritual fruit of love they were now bearing. Paul rejoiced to hear that these Christian converts were not only standing firm in the faith but growing in grace. And so we read that Paul praised God for their spiritual development. He was also comforted that the deep affection he had for these believers was lovingly reciprocated with kind remembrances of him.

However, there is always room for spiritual improvement and so Paul ached to see them again, in order to further strengthen their trust in Christ, develop their spiritual understanding, and enlarge their devotion to God even more. Indeed, Paul wrote that he not only rejoiced before our God on their account, but kept on praying most earnestly, night and day, that he might visit them in order to bring any deficiencies of their faith to perfection, to fill up what was lacking in their faith.

Despite their obvious growth in the faith, Paul knew that all Christians, however mature they may be, must press on to the next level of faith, and so he encouraged them by writing: "I pray that God the Father Himself and Jesus Christ our Lord would direct our way to visit you… and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you, so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints."

Heavenly Father, I praise and thank You for the great encouragement, strength, and instruction we receive from the letters of Paul to the church at Thessalonica. Thank You for giving us Your Word. I pray that You would teach me through Your Word, and train me how to grow in grace, to live by faith, and to pray in the spirit. Help me to stand firm in the faith, and may my heart continue to be established in the truth of the gospel of Christ so that I may stand blameless before You in holiness and virtue, at the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, with all His holy saints. I ask this in His holy name, AMEN.