Please read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).

'For we now live, if you continue to stand firm in the Lord.’ 1 Thessalonians 3:8

God calls us in Jesus to be part of the one body. As one body we are interconnected with each other, and it is vital to build each other’s faith stronger in Christ through love, prayer, care, and spiritual support. Today’s reading encourages us to grow together as the one body of Christ. Let us reflect on three points in this passage.

First, relationships matter: Paul focusses on relationships with fellow believers and their spiritual needs. Both Paul and the Thessalonians long to see each other (v.6). Although Paul is physically away from the Thessalonians, he is fully engaged with them emotionally and spiritually. He remains connected to them with Jesus’ love, care and concern to help them grow stronger in faith. As followers of Jesus, we are to remain connected and build relationships with fellow believers to strengthen each other in faith.

Second, mutual encouragement: Paul in his distress and persecution is comforted and encouraged by hearing the good news of Thessalonians’ faith and love (vv.6,8). He says, we now live because you stand firm in the Lord. Afflictions and persecution have not deterred the Thessalonians’ faith in Christ. Likewise, Paul is encouraging the Thessalonians through love, care and providing spiritual support. Seeing each other standing firm in the Lord even in trials and troubles is comforting and encouraging. Do we mutually encourage each other through love, care, and spiritual support to stand firm in the Lord?

Third, cross-cultural fellowship: Paul’s background is Jewish, but the Thessalonians are mainly from a pagan background. Both represent different cultures yet are connected by the love of Christ. They encourage each other and long to see each other face to face (vv.6,7,10). Two cultures are woven together like a living and growing fabric. The Gospel of Jesus crosses any barriers, knitting diverse cultures together in faith and love to build the Church. As believers we are called to have fellowship with those from diverse cultural backgrounds in our communities. Have we ever taken any steps to welcome and embrace them with the love of Christ? Paul teaches us to have rich cross-cultural fellowship, which is the beauty of the one body of Christ.

Let us pray: May God help us to remain connected with each other through love, prayer, care, and sharing the gospel to grow stronger in faith and fellowship. Amen.

The Revd Munawar Din, Vicar of St Luke’s, Brierfield & St Cuthbert’s, Burnley.