1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
In seminary a professor would always say, “Be kind to the people you minister to, they all are facing hard times.”
The church at Thessalonica was facing hard times — persecution,
testing of their faith, and spiritual opposition. The situation was
so grim that Paul feared that they would give up on their faith.
Paul’s
prayer is worth pondering because every week we’re asked to pray for
people facing difficulty. Consider the following:
1. Pray constantly (v. 10).
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Paul
prayed “night and day” for the believers in Thessalonica. When is the
last time you stayed awake all night to pray for someone? Effective
prayer engages the heart and mind at all hours of the day and night.
2. Pray earnestly (v. 10).
Paul
describes the intensity of his prayer as “most earnestly.” It is like
someone describing something as “more better.” While the phrase is
incorrect grammatically, it communicates the idea of going above and
beyond all normal measures.
Prayer must be
earnest to be effective. Weak, shallow, half-hearted prayers produce
weak, shallow, half-hearted results. Fervent or earnest prayers are
“boiling” in their intensity, getting God’s attention because they
bubble up from a heart wholly focused on the Lord and the one being
prayed for.
3. Pray practically (v. 10).
These
people were on Paul’s heart and mind. He loved them. He wanted to see
them again. It seems such an insignificant request. But, Paul’s
example reminds us that we are to pray about the everyday affairs of
those who are going through difficult times.
Often,
when people are facing difficulties they don’t eat properly or get
sufficient sleep or overlook time spent with loved ones. Paul
understood that all of life is to be lived under God’s watchful eye.
Nothing is too small to bring to his attention.
4. Pray specifically (v. 10).
Paul
wanted to “supply” or complete or make new what was lacking in their
faith. The word supply, often translated restore, was used for
mending torn nets so they would be useful for the next day’s fishing
expedition and for setting broken bones so that healing would enable
the person to live healthily.
Supplying or
equipping is what an equipment manager does before the start of a
football game. He makes sure the players have their helmets and pads
because if they go into the game without a helmet and proper padding,
they will be injured.