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OCTOBER 17
we told you before when we were with you that
we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened,
and you know. For this reason, when I could no
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longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest
3:2 establish…encourage…your faith. This by some means the tempter had tempted you,
was a common ministry concern and practice and our labor might be in vain.
of Paul (Acts 14:22; 15:32; 18:23). Paul’s con- 6 But now that Timothy has come to us from
cern did not focus on health, wealth, self- you, and brought us good news of your faith and
esteem, or ease of life, but rather the spiritual love, and that you always have good remem-
quality of life. Their faith was of supreme brance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we
importance in Paul’s mind as evidenced by 5 also to see you— therefore, brethren, in all our
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mentions in vv. 1–10. Faith includes the foun- affliction and distress we were comforted con-
dation of the body of doctrine (Jude 3) and 8
their believing response to God in living out cerning you by your faith. For now we live, if
that truth (Heb. 11:6). you stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God for
you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for
3:5 the tempter. Satan had already been 10
characterized as a hinderer (2:18) and now as your sake before our God, night and day pray-
a tempter in the sense of trying/testing for the ing exceedingly that we may see your face and
purpose of causing failure (Matt.4:3; 1 Cor.7:5; perfect what is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and
James 1:12–18). Paul was not ignorant of
Satan’s schemes (2 Cor.2:11;11:23) nor vulner- our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
12 And may the Lord make you increase and
able to his methods (Eph. 6:11), so Paul took
action to counterattack Satan’s expected abound in love to one another and to all, just as
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maneuver and to assure that all his efforts we do to you, so that He may establish your
were not useless. hearts blameless in holiness before our God
and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ with all His saints.
DAY 16:What was Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians?

“Now may our God…direct our way to you”(1 Thess.3:11).Paul knew that Satan had hindered
his return (2:18).Even though Timothy had visited and returned with a good report,Paul still felt the
urgency to see his spiritual children again. Paul followed the biblical admonition of the Psalms (Ps.
37:1–5) and Proverbs (Prov. 3:5,6) to entrust difficult situations to God.
“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another”(v.12).With over 30 pos-
itive and negative “one anothers” in the New Testament, love appears by far most frequently (4:9;
Rom. 12:10; 13:8; 2 Thess. 1:3; 1 Pet. 1:22; 1 John 3:11,23; 4:7,11; 2 John 5). It is the overarching term
that includes all of the other “one anothers.”Its focus is on believers in the church.“And to all.”In light
of the fact that God loved the world and sent His Son to die for human sin,believers who were loved
when they were unlovely (Rom. 5:8) are to love unbelievers (Matt. 5:43,44). Other New Testament
commands concerning all men include pursuing peace (Rom. 12:18), doing good (Gal. 6:10), being
patient (Phil.4:5), praying (1 Tim.2:1), showing consideration (Titus 3:2), and honoring (1 Pet.2:17).
“So that He may establish your hears blameless in holiness before our God.”Paul prayed that
there would be no grounds of accusation because of unholiness.“At the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ with all His saints.” Since this exact term is not used elsewhere in the New Testament of
angels but is commonly used for believers, it is best to understand the coming of the Lord to rap-
ture all His church and take them to heaven to enjoy His presence.

OCTOBER 17 Son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the
Potsherd Gate; and proclaim there the words
that I will tell you, and say, ‘Hear the word of
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Jeremiah 19:1–20:18
the LORD, O kings of Judah and inhabitants of
Thus says the LORD: “Go and get a pot- Jerusalem. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the
19 ter’s earthen flask, and take some of the God of Israel: “Behold, I will bring such a
elders of the people and some of the elders of catastrophe on this place, that whoever hears
the priests. And go out to the Valley of the of it, his ears will tingle.
2
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