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DOWN, BUT NOT OUT
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29
1 Thessalonians 2:17-18

2 Corinthians 4:7-18

 

“But… not in heart…”

 

DOWN, BUT NOT OUT
 
Paul had a good work going at Thessalonica. For three Sabbaths, he preached, and some believed and started to serve the Lord faithfully However, Satan intervened and forced Paul and his companions out of the city. Paul had a great desire to return to “perfect that which is lacking in your faith” (1 Thess 3:10).
 
It seems that after he left, those who opposed him began to spread negative rumours about him, questioning his motives and telling the church that Paul no longer cared for them and had left them for good. That was why Paul had to assure them that he had a great desire to return, but Satan’s hindrances were preventing him from returning.
 
Satan’s desire, in causing all these persecutions, was for Paul to give up and stop serving. He wanted Paul to lament, “What is the point of fighting so hard if all I get is more persecution, more trials, more suffering?” This was the same method that Satan used on Job, wanting him to curse God and die. But Paul understood the nature of the spiritual warfare and was not easily discouraged. Instead, he wrote to assure the brethren that though they were physically separated, they were not separated in heart. His heart was still very much with them, and he endeavoured the more abundantly to see them with great desire. This is the heart of a faithful servant of God. He was willing to suffer all this if it would grant him the opportunity to return to his spiritual children and minister to them. Many caught in the same situation would have been discouraged and given up a long time ago.
 
How about us in our service for the Lord? Are we easily discouraged by the conflicts and afflictions that we face? It may seem that every time we try to serve, troubles arise! Realise that this is the work of the devil, and his desire is for you to be discouraged and give up. Instead, let us declare: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor 4:8-9).
 
THOUGHT: If we give up, Satan wins.

PRAYER: Father, may I be able to persevere in my service for Thee.

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