2:18
But despite their best efforts they were unable to visit the Thessalonians. “Satan blocked our way”. This does not mean that demons physically stood in the way, but Satan used circumstances and humans to stop Paul visiting them. Two things to learn from this are (i) Satan is real and active; (ii) he is sometimes successful in his schemes. Some charismatics might think why didn’t Paul just rebuke Satan and have done with it? Well we do read of times in Acts when Paul did rebuke demons, and we do have authority over them in Christ, but the battle is real.
2:19,20
Paul again stresses his delight in the Thessalonians. Paul’s purpose, what he saw as a sign that his life was worthwhile, was seeing the Thessalonians grow in Christ. They were his “glory and joy”. Of course, this does not preclude the many other people that Paul witnessed to. When we die we will have no money, we no longer have any academic qualifications, we will have no status in the world. What we will have is the work we have done for Christ, or that He has done through us. The people we have influenced for good. We need to have the same heart as Paul.
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