1 Thessalonians 3:1-3

1 Wherefore [dio] when we could [stego] no longer [meketi] forbear, [stego] we thought it good [eudokeo] to be left [kataleipo] at [en] Athens [Athenai] alone; [monos]

2 And [kai] sent [pempo] Timotheus, [Timotheos] our [hemon] brother, [adelphos] and [kai] minister [diakonos] of God, [theos] and [kai] our [hemon] fellowlabourer [sunergos] in [en] the gospel [euaggelion] of Christ, [Christos] to [eis] establish [sterizo] you, [humas] and [kai] to comfort [parakaleo] you [humas] concerning [peri] your [humon] faith: [pistis]

3 That no man [medeis] should be moved [saino] by [en] these [tautais] afflictions: [thlipsis] for [gar] yourselves [autos] know [eido] that [hoti] we are appointed [keimai] thereunto [eis]. [touto] KJV-Interlinear

1 Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone; 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, 3 so that no man may be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. NASB

The history of Pauls travels and experiences in Thessalonica, Athens and Corinth are found in Acts 17-18.

When driven out of Thessalonica, he made his way to Athens and then to Corinth. But while in Athens, Paul deeply desired to return to the Thessalonians, but was prevented because of apparent threats on his life.Which threats are not detailed, but the persecutions had to have been of a major magnitude that would prevent Paul from returning.

And, even though we do not know the details of his persecutions, they were not apparently intended for Timothy or Silas or others as they seemed to travel back and forth reasonably freely and without threat.

In Acts 18 we know that Paul received a communication from God, reassuring him about his life, and to keep on speaking the gospel and doctrine, as he was.

So from these events, we can reasonably assume that the threats were very real, and very dangerous, and that they concerned Paul greatly. And, that everyone back then, was aware of them and other folks in general had great concerns for Pauls welfare.Paul herein reassures folks to not worry about him, but that his life was destined for these things.

These things obviously being the teaching of the gospel, of doctrine, of writing doctrine, which we are enjoying today, and that the threats against him were also a part of his destiny, and included in Gods plan in detail, for his life.

And with that I would like to make an observation for you.

Your life is not by accident, but was preplanned by God. There is nothing in life that will occur, regarding you, that is by accident or unexpected, but by design.

And even though you will make your own decisions (good ones and bad ones) from day to day, and others in this world will make decisions, which will affect you directly or indirectly, they are all a part of Gods detailed plan for you and all of us.

There are three very important people in your life.

Jesus Christ who died to save your soul, the soldier who died to save your freedom, and the believer who died to this world to preserve Gods blessing for your life.

Believers who are advancing in their spiritual life will encounter many persecutions. They will encounter pressures from their own wants and needs, pressures from other people, pressures from the bureaucracies of the world, and pressures from the many environmental or physical or nature related events and circumstances.

They will be unknown, unheralded, and easily forgotten.

But their purpose in this world is to glorify God, through their pursuit of, and obedience to, Bible doctrine, and through their endurance of the many unfair circumstances that exist in the world.

No matter who you are, or what you know, or what you have accomplished in your life, none of it would have been possible were it not for these three individuals (Christ, soldiers, and positive believers), who have gone before you and paved the way through Gods grace, for your life.

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