167. Paul’s Prayer For The Church At Thessalonica.

Paul’s Prayer For The Church At Thessalonica. The Prayer as recorded.—1 Thessalonians 3:10-13. The good tidings of the love and devotedness of his brethren in the city of Thessalonica, filled the heart of Paul with thankfulness, and comforted him in his heavy trials, for he says: “Now we live if ye stand fast.” Every message concerning the success of the gospel among the people of God, filled the soul of Paul with joy, and his lips with praise. In this petition there is expressed no desire for wealth, fame, or even an increase of converts, but that he may meet them again, and that not alone for the pleasure he would realize in beholding those for whom so often his prayers had risen to God, but that he might aid them spiritually, and perfect that which was lacking in their faith. It is the prayer of one risen with Christ, of “one whose spirit was so large in its affections, so high in its object, of a man who had so much of heaven in his friendships, so much of soul in his attachments, that he thought time too brief, earth too scanty, worldly blessings too low, to enter deeply into his prayers for those for whom life itself would so soon be no more.”

“This truth in all your hearts receive: That all the saints unite with care, To prove the omnipotence of prayer;

Oh, then pray on, ’twill clear the way—

Chiefly for God’s own Spirit pray:

There you shall And, if there you seek, Wealth for the poor, strength for the weak;

Soundness for sickness, life for death, Derived from this inspiring breath.”