Our glory and our joy

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. - 1 Thessalonians 2v19-20

Thessalonica, in northern Macedonia, was far from Paul’s hometown of Damascus. The church there was one of the churches established in his missionary journeys. And yet there is a wonderful relationship between Paul and this church. He desired to see them again, but according to verse 18 Satan hindered them over and over. He couldn’t get back to them.

We see his love in the words used to describe them. They are his hope, his joy, and his crown of rejoicing. Seeing them at the return of Christ would be his glory and joy. This is one of those places where I think every missionary can identify with Paul. In spite of the challenges, difficulties, and in Paul’s case persecution, his greatest joy was these dear saints that God had allowed him to work with. Unless Paul had gone to Thessalonica no church would have been there. Paul would see these folks at the rapture, and that joy exceeded everything else.

I don’t know how big the church in Thessalonica. Thousands? Hundreds? Dozens? Or maybe a handful? It doesn’t make any difference really. Paul could rejoice and glory in the fact that he had a part in seeing this body of believers established in the faith and as a local body.

That kind of supersedes everything else. Praise the Lord for these little reminders.