But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, (1 Thessalonians 2:17 - ESV) "... we were torn away from you ..." If you go back to Acts 17:1-10, you can read about the quick departure from Thessalonica. But Paul wants them to know that the separation is only physical, he is still with them in heart and has a strong desire to return to them. His desire is to see them "face to face"... What is interesting though, is that this is the first letter of Paul's. Paul has discovered a new way of ministry. Paul has had to adjust his preferred ministry, but we have all benefited from this new process of teaching to those that he cannot see face-to-face. This benefit has stretched through the centuries and has served to fulfill God's purposes of spreading the gospel to every nation on earth.
Man seems like he never has the right focus in life. Most of the time he is focusing on himself. we choose to throw our "best" to the world and expect something back. God looks at our "best" as filthy rags. I know this doesn't really have anything to do w/the verse, but it just reminded me that we need to keep our focus on God. No matter what we're doing or how we're doing it; we need to be sure that God is being glorified by our every word!
ReplyDelete