Holiday Hope

Scripture — 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 (NRSV)

How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Devotion

What do you hope for in this holiday season? When you think about what’s coming up in this time of year, what fills your heart with glad expectation?

During Advent when I was in college, far away from my family, I was certainly looking forward to celebrating the birth of my Savior. But the hope I felt most passionately was focused on being reunited with my family. I counted the days, quite literally, until I could be with them once again.

I expect the Apostle Paul would understand how I felt when yearning for a reunion with those I loved so much. He begins the third chapter of his first letter to the Thessalonian Christians by explaining that his concern for them is so great that, when he was far away in Athens, he chose to send his co-worker Timothy to Thessalonica in order to “strengthen and encourage” the new Christians there. This left Paul alone, something he loathed but put up with out of his care for the Thessalonians (3:1-2).

When Timothy returned from Thessalonica, he had good news for Paul. The young believers in that city were thriving in their “faith and love” (3:6). This filled Paul’s heart with joy and increased his eagerness to see his Thessalonian converts “face to face” (3:10).

Paul’s hope to return to Thessalonica was strong. The character of this hope, however, was shaped and framed by another, far greater hope. Paul expresses this hope in verse 13: “And may [the Lord] so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.” Notice that Paul isn’t merely wishing for the second advent of Christ. His hope is filled with confidence and assurance. He knows Jesus will come again in the future. In light of this future reality, Paul is eager for those whom he introduced to Christ to grow in their faith. He wishes that, when Christ returns, they will be strengthened in holiness and even blameless before God. Notice that this blamelessness will happen, not because the Thessalonians accomplish it through their own effort, but because the Lord is at work in them, strengthening their hearts.

In this season of Advent, you will likely experience “holiday hope” focused on being reunited with people you love. Perhaps you’ll be heading home, much as I did when I was in college. Or perhaps you’ll be welcoming folks from far away into your home. Maybe you’ll have to settle for an extended Zoom call. As you feel hopeful about relational reunions, let the example of Paul remind you of another reunion in the future. Someday you will be at home with Jesus. On that day, you will see him face to face, experiencing as never before the love of God that welcomes you home.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Working Faith, Finishing Up, and Keeping the Faith (1 Thess. 1:1–4:8; 4:13–5:28; 2 Thess. 1:1-2:17).