帖撒罗尼迦前书

Meditative Reflection
The Work of Satan

“For we want to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did again and again—but Satan stopped us.” (1 Thess. 2:18)

I am greatly troubled when I hear a Christian call another Christian, Satan. It is even worse when such an accusation is said during a public prayer, attributing any opposition to our idea or suggestion concerning church matters as the work of Satan.

They seem to find their legitimacy or precedent in Jesus’ rebuke over Peter in Matthew 16:23 and in this passage to the Thessalonians by Paul (1 Thess. 2:18). However, we have to recognize that such an attribution of a person as Satan or of certain deeds by Christians as the work of Satan is few and far between in the Scripture.

First of all, it is the Lord and not any of the disciples who called Peter Satan, and the Lord’s rebuke was certainly out of love as He understood that as wrong as Peter was, he acted out of love for Him. Yes, the cold, hard fact was, Peter’s love for Christ served to lure Christ out of His commitment to die for all of us on the cross. It was because the severity of such an act is a stumbling block to the eternal plan of salvation that Jesus had to equate Peter as Satan. However, there were numerous other occasions when His disciples “do not have in mind the things of God, but things of men” (Matthew 16:23) and yet Jesus never rebuked them as Satan. Their argument over who was the greatest is a case in point (Matt. 18:1-5) and Peter’s denial of Jesus is another (Matt. 26:69-75).

In the case of Paul not being able to go to Thessalonica as soon as he wanted to, we really have no idea what might be the circumstance that caused Paul to attribute it to the work of Satan. Since Satan is called the “prince of this world” by our Lord (Jn. 14:30) and he is the one who is also called “the accuser of our brothers” (Rev. 12:10), I would be very reluctant to call any of our brothers or sisters in Christ, Satan. It is very likely that whatever prevented Paul from going to Thessalonica came from the world, and not necessarily from within the body of Christ. As a result, any action by the world that goes against the body of Christ and His Kingdom is that of the “prince of this world” and can safely be described as the work of Satan.

While our brothers and sisters might at times act in a way that is blatantly against the biblical principles and unity of the body of Christ, under such circumstances, we can rest assure that the “accuser” has already seized the opportunity to accuse them before God, and there is no need for us to give him a hand in this respect. Therefore, we need to pray for them and not to shame them or call them as Satan, but intercede on their behalf before the throne of grace.

Meditative Reflection
For Now We Really Live!

“For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.” (1 Thess. 3:8)

Maybe you are taken aback like I am at the statement made by Paul in the captioned verse above. Why would he say that since the Thessalonians believers are standing firm in the Lord, they “really live”?

Allow me to share with you the insight of John Chrysostom of the 4^th century B.C. as follows:

“What is comparable to Paul, who thought the salvation of his neighbors was his own, being so affected towards all, as really towards members? Who now would be able to break forth into such speech? Or rather, who will even be able to have such a thought? He did not require them to be thankful to him for the trials which he suffered for them, but he was thankful to them that they were not moved on account of his trials. As if he said, that to you rather than to us was injury done by those trials; you were tempted rather than we, you who suffered nothing, rather we who suffered. Because he says, Timothy brought us these good tidings, we feel nothing of our sorrows, but were comforted in all our affliction; not in this affliction only. For nothing besides can touch a good teacher, as long as the affairs of his disciples go on to his mind. Through you, he says, we were comforted; you confirmed us. And yet the reverse was the case. For that when suffering they did not yield, but stood manfully, was sufficient to confirm the disciples. But he reverses the whole matter, and turns the encomium over to them. You have anointed us, he says, you have caused us to breathe again; you have not suffered us to feel our trials. And he has not said, we breathe again, nor we are comforted, but what? 'Now we live', showing that he thinks nothing is either trial or death but their stumbling, whereas their advancement was even life. How else could any one have set forth either the sorrow for the weakness of one’s disciples, or the joy? He has not said we rejoice but 'we live', the life to come.

“So that without this we do not even think it like to live. So ought teachers to be affected, so disciples…”

(NAPF, Vol. 13, 3401)

Meditative Reflection
Pleasing God

“Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living.” (1 Thess. 4:1)

The US Declaration of Independence contains these words,

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

This well-meaning statement has been foundational to the upholding of human rights, and rightly so. However, as Christians, we have bought into this statement, especially the last element as if it were from the Scriptures. There is no doubt that God delights to give us happiness, but can the pursuit of happiness be our goal of life? Absolutely not. It is not our happiness, but God’s happiness that should be the pursuit of every Christian.

The following story by Steve Farrar serves to illustrate how wrong-headed and wrong-hearted we have become as we make the pursuit of own happiness our goal of life:

“A number of years ago when I was pastoring, a man sat in my office. He was in his early sixties, had been married to the same woman for nearly forty years, and had five grown children and numerous grandchildren. He had been a committed Christian since coming to Christ in high school. For years, he had been a pillar in the evangelical community, serving as a leader in the church as well as on the boards of various Christian ministries. He had an excellent grasp of the Scriptures and had influenced hundreds of young people for Christ.

"Why were we meeting? To discuss his teaching a Bible class for men? To look into the possibility of his mentoring some younger men in the church? No. We were meeting to discuss why he was involved in an immoral relationship for the past five years with a girl younger than his own daughter.

"He didn’t even try to deny his sin. A sharp thinker, he had developed a tight web of rationalizations that even included some scriptural references. As I continued to probe and slice through his web of excuses, finally, after about thirty minutes, he heaved a great sigh and blurted out, ‘Don’t I have a right to be happy?’.

"In that one statement he captured the spirit of our age."
(Excerpt from Point Man, by Steve Farrar)

Meditative Reflection
To Grieve Properly

“Brothers, we do not want you to be asleep or to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope.” (1 Thess. 4:13)

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 is one the great passages we can use to comfort those who have lost a loved one in Christ. I like to use it in my preaching at Christian funerals because it not only gives us comfort and hope, but a comfort and a hope that is absolutely not wishful thinking.

In officiating the funerals or memorials of Christians, I often hear well-meaning, but misguided eulogizers say things like the following:

“He (meaning the deceased) is looking at us now.” (Well, sorry, only God is omnipresent!)

“He is enjoying his most favorite drink now in heaven.” (No kidding!)

“He is having fun skating, skiing, fishing (or any hobby that the deceased was noted for having) with the Big Guy.” (All this “fun” depends on gravity!)

I know, I shouldn’t be too harsh on them, but they do not really know what to say, especially if they themselves are not Christians. So, they end up saying things that amount really to wishful thinking!

Unfortunately, when it comes to my turn to preach from the Scriptures, many continue to think that what the Bible says also amounts to nothing more than wishful thinking. Far from it, exclaims Paul:

“We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep (i.e. died) in Him.” (1 Thess. 4:14)

What the Apostle Paul is saying is that our hope in the resurrection of the dead is not based on wishful thinking, but rather, on the historical fact of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only person whose tomb is still empty because He has risen from the dead to prove that He is not just a man but God—the Creator and Giver of life. As a result, those who died in Him, meaning those who, in their lifetime have believed in Him and received His resurrected life into their hearts, will be resurrected too at the time of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is not wishful thinking because this risen Christ had been seen by many of His disciples, and “He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time,” testified the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:6.

Therefore, in 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul is not urging us not to grieve and mourn for our loved ones, but that our grieving and mourning should be done so with hope, not wishful thinking, believing (in fact, knowing) that our separation with our loved ones in Christ is only for a while; soon and very soon, our Lord will bring them along in His return. It is with such a glorious and solid hope that we will experience the second Beatitude of our Lord, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4)

Meditative Reflection
Waiting for the Lord’s Return

“But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.” (1 Thess. 5:4)

Because of what the Lord says in Matthew 24 about His coming like a thief (24:42-44) and the fact that no one knows about the day or the hour of it, I have always accepted the notion that His coming would be a surprise to all. The Apostle Paul clarifies here (in 1 Thess. 5) that it is like the coming of a thief only to those who live in darkness, but to us who are not in darkness, it should not be like a thief and we should not be caught by surprise (1 Thess. 5:1-5).

In my youth, as a new believer, I always struggled with my lack of desire for the Lord’s coming. I do not believe I necessarily loved the Lord any less then. In fact, I always admire the simple and innocent faith I had, coupled with the intense love for the Lord which I can only described as “first love” (Rev. 2:4).

However, it was also true that in those days, while my mind told me that I could die and see the Lord anytime, my heart honestly did not share the same recognition. In fact, there was  so much to see, to learn, to conquer and to achieve in the world. Yet, I found myself praying often to the Lord, asking for an increased sense of longing for His return.

Now, that many of my peers and especially those older than me in the family have gone ahead of me to see the Lord, and I myself, having gone past “middle-age”, am in struggling health,  I have an increased and acute awareness of the shortness of life. It is not that I do not prayerfully plan ahead, but each thought of the future is definitely tempered with an awareness that I may not be around for long on this earth. In a way, this is biblical and spiritually healthy. However, I can’t help but understand that it is still not the same as having an increased longing for the Lord’s return.

To recognize that I can go home anytime is different from the recognition that the Lord can return anytime. If I am gone, people around me can still have the chance to know the Lord. The Lord can and will certainly raise up others to take my place. But if the Lord returns, those who have not known the Lord will perish eternally. There is no second chance. That’s the surprise that will come upon them, indeed, like a thief! As Paul says, “destruction will come on them suddenly, and they will not escape.” (1 Thess. 5:3).

As a result, I need to continue with the prayer of my youth, “Lord, give me an increased sense of longing for your return”, so that I may also have an increased sense of urgency to reach the lost.

Meditative Reflection
Respecting Your Pastors in Love

“Hold them in the highest regard in love, because of their work.” (1 Thess. 5:13)

I find it interesting that the Apostle Paul had to admonish such a great, loving church like the church in Thessalonica to respect those in leadership, meaning pastors, in the midst of trials and persecutions.

I wonder what the reasons might be that the Thessalonians would not respect those who were leading and teaching them. Because they were not as well educated? Because they were not as gifted in preaching and teaching? Or, because they were not well organized, not too sensitive to the needs of others or were very forgetful? We do not know.

But we do know that they worked hard. They were providing spiritual leadership and they obviously admonished biblically. And thus, even though they might have other short-comings, Paul says, “respect…and…hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.” (1 Thess. 5:13)

I think the emphasis is “in love”, because nobody is perfect, let alone the pastors. We need to respect that they have been called by God to minister to us. As long as they work hard to feed and lead us, biblically, irrespective of their other short-comings, we need to accept them and their short-comings in love, and hold them in the “highest regard”, not because they necessarily deserve it, but because of “their work” (i.e. their work as appointed by our Great Shepherd to shepherd us). It is not a very popular notion today, but still the teaching of the Scriptures.

Meditative Reflection
Openness of Leadership

“I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.” (1 Thess. 5:27)

I find the last instruction of this first letter to the Thessalonians quite puzzling in that it is really the only time that Paul urges the receiving church to have his letter read in public.

One of the reasons could be because this was one of the earliest letters, if not the earliest, sent by Paul to the churches (around A.D. 50-51). As a result, as much the letter would naturally be handed to the leaders of the church, it was meant to address the entire congregation of the church. Although the letter sheds a very favorable light on the Thessalonian church in general, there are still admonitions that might present a challenge to the church, especially to some of those in leadership. Consider the areas of admonition:

- His defense of his integrity of ministry, not being men-pleasing (2:3-6);

- His example of ministering to them as a mother and also as a father (2:6-12);

- Possible doubts and criticisms about Paul’s delay in a return-visit (2:17-20);

- His fear for their faith as indicated by the sending of Timothy to check them up (3:1-5); 

- The series of admonition and warnings—from sexual immorality to being idle.

As a result, Paul wants to set a precedent and to make sure that irrespective of how some of the leaders might feel about his defenses and admonitions, this remains an open letter to be read to all. As a result, this letter has been able to remain in circulation to these days.