Advent Devotions: 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13

9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

There are many, many people who make the argument that they can be Christians and not be a part of a local parish community. To a certain degree that is true. However, the gifts of Christian community are lost upon those who want to go strictly solo in this faith journey. Perhaps they have been jaded by the sinfulness of the Church; many expect Christians to be close to perfect and when they aren't it only makes a case against them even stronger. But that is the first hurdle to overcome. There is not a single Christian, nor a single human being, who is perfect. Period. We all mess up - daily in fact. We all struggle to be faithful to God and to honor one another. We are near perfect at justifying our own sin and brokenness, if there is any perfection to be found within us at all. It is a first step to go beyond our disillusionment with those who call themselves believers, and with the imperfect church as a whole. It's just not reasonable to think that we go from being sinful to perfect even though we confess that Jesus is Lord. We make that confession because we know something of what Christ has done for us - save us from the power of sin, death, and the devil in our lives. And we try to be obedient, but we fail quite regularly. So we learn to give one another a break and recognize instead the love that our heavenly Father has for each of us, and that his forgiveness is our greatest gift. 

So, back to the benefits of Christian community, which is what Paul is speaking about in this passage. He longs to return to the Thessalonian believers because he has been a part of their faith journey thus far. He yearns to be with them so he can continue instructing them, praying with them, and growing with them. This can really only be done when people get together and sit knee to knee and look at one another face to face. He wants to supply them with whatever is lacking in their faith - meaning he desires nothing more than to help them grow in maturity and confidence in the Lord. That's what we do for one another in the church. We really see each other, faults and all, and we continue to love and embrace each other through it all. We discuss, we wrangle, we pray, we weep, we laugh, and we grow in Spirit. It is a very long process - life long. And some of it can be done alone (in fact we all need time alone WITH GOD) but it can never be as full as when done alongside other believers. We need each other. I need you and you need me. And together we supply what is lacking in each other's faith. 

Holy God, grant us to courage to be in community where things are often not perfect, but where you are present in Word and Sacrament. Heal our wounds, draw us closer, and supply all we need for our faith through the gift of each other. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.