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1 Thessalonians 3:6-8
6 But [de] now [arti] when Timotheus [Timotheos] came [erchomai] from [apo] you [humon] unto [pros] us, [hemas] and [kai] brought [euaggelizo] us [hemin] good tidings [euaggelizo] of your [humon] faith [pistis] and [kai] charity, [agape] and [kai] that [hoti] ye have [echo] good [agathos] remembrance [mneia] of us [hemon] always, [pantote] desiring greatly [epipotheo] to see [eido] us, [hemas] as [kathaper] we [hemeis] also [kai] to see you: [humas]
7 Therefore [dia], [touto] brethren, [adelphos] we were comforted [parakaleo] over [epi] you [humin] in [epi] all [pas] our [hemon] affliction [thlipsis] and [kai] distress [anagke] by [dia] your [humon] faith: [pistis]
8 For [hoti] now [nun] we live, [zao] if [ean] ye [humeis] stand fast [steko] in [en] the Lord. [kurios] KJV-Interlinear
6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, 7 for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; 8 for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. NASB
Not being able to go to Thessalonica, Paul sent others and heard their news when they returned. Hearing that the Thessalonians were doing well was an encouragement to Paul, especially since he was under tremendous pressure from the persecutions referred to earlier.
And so it is with all of us. When we are somewhat isolated from others in the world, it is always encouraging to us, when we hear good news and especially news of encouragement.
I receive emails from time to time and am very thankful for them. Often times some emails are rude or obnoxious, and for those, my delete key works really well. But odd as it may seem, the rude emails do have some value to me, as I can see how some folks think. That gives me some perspective that I might otherwise never think of.
But the most encouraging emails are from folks who are genuinely dedicated to their Bible studies. And, as the Bible study has reached to many folks around the world, I get an unusually unique opportunity to look at the study or the lives of folks from different cultures and backgrounds.
Even when folks are totally surrounded by humanity, they can be totally alone. And that is true of this world. Most of the world is anti-God, or indifferent toward the Christian view. That makes us all alone in some sense.
Our unique tie together is this study and the life it creates within us, which is unique to each one of us, but similar in all of us, bringing us all closer together, even though separated by miles or thousands of miles.
Bible doctrine generates a unique inner peace of mind that is not otherwise attainable by any other means.
Whether you are standing in the midst of thousands, or alone in your room, we have something between us, that no one else will ever have in all of the world. And that something is God, Christ, doctrine, and our most valuable spiritual life, which is ours and ours alone, and no one can ever take it from us.
In this world, people will hustle and struggle to gain relationships or ownership of something or everything, and end up with nothing. You may have nothing in this world, but through doctrine, that possession (your spiritual life) is yours forever and more valuable than all of the collective wealth that has ever existed throughout history in this world.
When you eventually get into eternity, your spiritual life will translate into infinite blessings. The wealth that folks have accumulated from this world will simply not exist.
