Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.  May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.  May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy n the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

What a beautiful prayer Paul delivered to the new disciples of Thessalonica.  Things had gotten pretty tough for Paul, Timothy and Silas in Thessalonica so they retreated to Athens.  But the new disciples were in Paul’s thoughts and when Timothy was sent back to Thessalonica to bring a report, Paul was encouraged to hear that their faith and love remained strong.

I have never been tested with physical or emotional hurt because of my beliefs.  I wonder if I would remain strong and true to my faith if tested as Paul and Timothy and Silas and the new disciples of Thessalonica.   I’d like to believe that I would be able to show my faith in my actions even when it was hard . . . well, isn’t that what our daily life looks like?  It seems that the message we continue to receive is that our faith is a living faith.  Faith without action is not faith.  We make that decision daily to follow Christ’s teachings in the way we share our love and concern for others.  We show that faith by service to church and our community, we show that faith by sharing the Good News.  My life is certainly a life of physical and emotional ease when compared to the early disciples.  But in fact, I think it is that life of ease which sometimes leads to a neglect of faith.

Prayer

Dear Lord, please be at our side in our daily lives and help us to live our lives as people of faith.  Help us focus on Your presence in our lives and remind us that our blessings come through You. Amen