Waiting With Authority

Let us move today into chapter 3 of I Thessalonians, the theme of which has been, “While waiting  for the King”. In chapter 3 the key verse is verse 13, which gives us the confidence to wait with  authority. The text says, “To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints”.  Paul mentions His coming in every chapter. My, My, what authority it gives us to wait a little longer. Step into chapter three and verses 1-4, were Paul shares with us the authority of appointment. In verse one I find we are appointed to loneliness. Paul thought it good to be left in Athens(Greece) alone. When my wife and I wrestle years ago to come to Athens, Ga. this was the verse that said  this is the way walk ye in it.  I see in verse two that we are appointed to labor. Paul said he sent Timothy to share the gospel, establish them, and comfort them in their faith. Is this not to be our mission to others while we  wait for the  King to come? In verse 3-4 I find He has appointed us to lowliness.  Paul tell us while we  wait, labor, and share, we can expect affliction and tribulation. Paul is not painting a cake walk picture today. We in the USA have not suffered as others have for the gospel. Let us be sure as we wait our time, the arena of suffering will soon come and that without warning.