Faith・Love・Joy・Prayer Andy Nagahara
A. Our joy (6-9)
1. Joy in seeing faith and love (6)
6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. 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.
2. Joy that gives us reason to live (7-9)
7 Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.
9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?
B. Our prayer (10-13)
1. For greater faith (10, 11)
10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.
2. For love to overflow (12, 13)
12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
Summary
Even in the face of his own suffering, and the suffering faced by the Thessalonians, Paul was delighted by the fact that their faith was growing and was evident in their love. There is never a point at which love and faith should stop growing, which is why Paul continues to pray for the believers. God has not given us a specific goal with regard to faith and love other than to continue growing. Let us pray for one another's growth in faith and love.
For Discussion
1) Why was Paul rejoicing?
2) How does faith grow?