A Good Report

1 Thessalonians 3:6-10

It is always great to receive a good report about people you love, and that is what is taking place in verses 6-9.  Today I would like to examine or look deeper into verse ten, “as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?”  Have you ever given thought to someone other than God being used to supply what is lacking in your faith?  Your first thought may be, God is the giver of faith and how true that is, God is the giver of faith.  But how does faith increase in a Christian’s life?  Romans 10:17, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”  So the teaching and preaching of the word of God can supply faith, and yet the apostle James states, faith without works is empty faith (James 2:17) I do believe that is the message from St. Francis of Assisi, "Preach the gospel always, If necessary use words” is appropriate. 

You and I have been given a clear understanding of what faith is in Hebrews 11:1, and we also have been told in Hebrews 11:6, that without faith it is impossible to please God.  Yes, we have been instructed by the prophet Habakkuk that the righteous shall live by faith, and in Romans 5:1 that our justification by our faith in Christ and it has brought us peace with God.  I find great peace in my soul from these words Jesus spoke to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.  Do you believe this?”  Wow, Jesus has a way of cutting to the chase.

But in the verse 10, Paul is telling us that we are to be part of building up of believers, that is referred to as and edification.  Paul in his letters often instructs us to be encouragers, to build up the faith of other Christians by our words, and by our actions, you may want to read Romans 14:13-19.  How are you doing in this area of building or as Paul states, “supply what is lacking in your faith?”  First at home, and then as you go about living in your neighborhood, and at work.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice