Day 2 of Thanksgiving ~ Thanksgiving in Absence

Thanksgiving in Absence 1 Thessalonians 3 Have you ever led someone to the Lord, or heard or seen someone profess Christ, and then within a few months, something happens and they stop going to church, or they are no longer interested in being involved. Worse yet, they go back to their old way of life, or they do something that makes everyone question if they really became a new creation in Christ? I'm not writing this to question their salvation or make a statement like, "Well, that just proves they weren't truly saved in the first place". Read 'When Godly People do Ungodly Things' by Beth Moore, if you are the type of person who has ever made this type of statement. Instead, the question I want to focus on is, "Wasn't it disheartening?" Because truly, what hurts in our hearts the most, is our concern for the person. It's heartbreaking to see people go back to their old ways and to wonder if they didn't receive the proper discipleship, enough prayer, enough encouragement, enough training in spiritual warfare...the list goes on. We can beat ourselves up all day about this issue. There is only so much the church can do for these people; only so much you can do for these people. In fact, it's inevitable that this happens because we are human, and there is only so much of one person to go around. In First Thessalonians, Paul worried that the new believers in Thessalonica, had done exactly what I'm talking about. Back then, the only means of communication was through letter-writing. Paul had no idea how the new believers were doing. They had heard the gospel from Paul and then Paul was chased out of the city. The Thessalonians received no discipleship; only the prayers of Paul, Timothy, and Silas. In verse one, of Chapter 3, Paul couldn't stand the suspense any longer. Paul had to know how they were doing, so he sent young Timothy to check on them. They were doing fine. Have you ever led someone to Christ, or seen or heard of someone professing Christ, and then maybe they move, or you move? You wonder how they are doing. Maybe you worry yourself sick. I know I have. I worry that Satan will come and destroy, or take, anything he can. But then, you hear word of this person, or you see on social media, that the person is blooming and growing, and living each day for Christ. It is the single most wonderful feeling of relief you will ever feel, to know that someone you know and love, is persevering in the faith. I know exactly how Paul felt. Maybe you do, too. In fact, both situations (the good and the bad) have happened to me. In verses 7-9, Paul refers to this feeling of relief over others and knowing that they are standing firm in the faith, as "REALLY LIVING"! Even while Paul had a difficult life (he wrote Thessalonians while in Corinth trying to reason with the Jews - Acts 18: 5-6), he still found so much to be thankful for. The life that others were living became what Paul rejoiced and thanked God for, even while enduring hardship in his own life (Second Corinthians 11). Maybe your own life isn't going so well, either. Is there even one person you know, who is persevering? Is there even one who is walking with God? Is this enough for you? It was enough for Paul. Today, thank God for people you know who are standing firm, especially if you are absent from them. Pray for those ones who aren't doing so well, knowing that your prayers can bear fruit in their life. God bless you!