Paul settled down working a normal job in Corinth making tents alongside Aquila and Priscilla, while “every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.” – Acts 18:4
“When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia …” – Acts 18:5
Finally! At long last Timothy has arrived with a report about how the brand-new church in Thessalonica is doing.
“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.
“Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:6-8
Oh, the relief! The brand-new Christians in Thessalonica are doing ok! Their faith is strong! They are continuing to love! They are standing firm in the Lord.
It’s amazing how hope can breathe life into us!
Paul continues: “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of God because of you?
“Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10
Well … since Paul can’t be there in person to “supply what is lacking in their faith” he does what he can by sending a letter. He writes to his dear friends, giving them important instructions for how to live holy lives which please God.
“We instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2
Considering the fact that Paul is now in Corinth, with the acropolis of Corinth looming large over the city, upon which stands the Temple of Aphrodite (goddess of love and beauty) with all her many priestess prostitutes leading worshipers in worship … it’s no wonder Paul starts off the instructions with:
“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified/holy; that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.
“The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8
Paul continues: “Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10
There is a huge difference between the type of love associated with Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty … and the type of love associated with the One True God, Jesus Christ.
These are two totally and completely different types of love.
The type of love being celebrated by worshipers high atop the Acrocorinth is not real love at all. This type of love is a false counterfeit which will be sternly punished by the One True God!
The type of love Paul is encouraging the Christians in Thessalonica to pursue is a love which flows directly from God himself. It is a love which is pure. It is a love which is holy. It is a love which is taught by God. This type of love … strive for this more and more, is Paul’s instruction.
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else … 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.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
God chose to include, as part of our Bible, this letter from Paul to his dear friends (1 Thessalonians in our Bible), because God wants us to follow these same instructions today! This type of love … God is telling us today, strive for this more and more.
