Recently, I had a chance to catch up over the phone with a friend I’ve known for over 15 years. We hadn’t spoken in a while, but once the conversation got flowing, we were mutually delighted to discover the ways we’d seen God’s constant work in us and our families over the years. Two hours later, I hung up the phone feeling the joy of being known and the encouragement to keep pressing on.
To me, this feels like the kind of conversation Paul is having with the church at Thessalonica. Since he had been forced to abruptly leave them, Paul, long separated from this beloved Greek church, was worried about how they were faring under persecution. But in this section of his letter, you can feel his relief to hear they aren’t just surviving, but thriving. They’ve already become well known for their steadfast commitment to the faith and their powerful love for each other.
So, what does a spiritual father say to people who are doing well? In other letters, you may see Paul correcting sin or offering education, but in this one, we mostly find delight, encouragement, and a heartfelt blessing to keep going. He celebrates the good they’ve been doing, then pushes them to take that goodness further, praying they increase and overflow with love and that God will “make [their] hearts blameless in holiness” (1Thessalonians 3:13).
“Blameless” isn’t a word we use too often these days, and if you’re prone to thinking of humans as chronically imperfect, it can sound like a tall order for anyone. In the biblical Greek language, “blameless” means a serious calling to be free of fault, to be perfect, to be so far above reproach no one can say anything bad about you. Paul knows they’ve done well, so now he is calling them to go further as they deepen their love for God and each other, to keep growing and representing Christ in their community, no matter the challenges, persecution, and turmoil they face.
So, how do you strive for perfection when the whole world seems to come against you, when life continues to wear you down? Blamelessness, it seems, doesn’t happen through individualistic striving. It calls for living in a tension between actively walking by God’s instruction (Psalm 119:1) and “relying on the power of God” (2Timothy 1:8). Fortunately, we don’t do this alone. This happens in community, too, “as we consider one another in order to provoke love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). It happens when we listen to each other’s stories for encouragement and support, and it happens when we study God’s faithfulness to the Church across generations and cultures. May that give us all a reason for hope, gratitude, and encouragement.
I love 2Timothy and can barely read this verse without singing this song!
This hymn came to my heart while reading the readings today:
I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.
Refrain:
But “I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.”
I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.
I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.
I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.
I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.
Since the pandemic you my SRT sisters have been my main Christian community. I’m thankful for all of you. I’m thankful for finding SRT, and that Amanda and Raechel started it. Most of all I’m thankful for a loving and caring Lord and Savior to help me through the hard times.
Praying for you now, Emily! I grew up in a military household and think we often forget the toll deployments can take on families. I pray you will be strengthened and encouraged and trust that the Lord will give you both everything you need! Blessings on you and your family!
Amen.. Lord help and save us
ALICIA GILBERT I appreciate your post. I can relate because I recently moved from Louisiana to Kentucky but for very different reasons. Still I too realize the importance of keeping God first in my life. May God make your path straight. May He go before you. In Jesus name Amen.
Erikka, I think it helps to associate yourself with a body of believers you can be proud of, and to be a light yourself. Not all churches are made the same, and by aligning yourself with a biblical but grace filled one can help you to overcome. Plus shame is not ours in Christ. Everything can be placed at the cross so begin to lament (cry out) and pray for those believers as you set a new standard in your circle of influence by your own actions.
Appreciate this reading. Writing in with a request myself. My partner of almost 1.5 years now is struggling to forgive me for a misstep on my part. I’ve done all I can to remedy the situation, but it seems he just needs time. It’s frustrating for me to give him this space when I feel I’ve given him so much leeway before. Perhaps this is the Lord signaling us to move on from one another. I hope not, but even in that event, it’s hard to live with the fact that he may put a label on me that I know isn’t true. I often strive to be blameless, but moments like this remind me that I’m flawed too. I appreciate your prayers.