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“perfect what is lacking in your faith” (1 Thess. 3:10, NKJV)
It can be surreal for parents to hold their newborn baby. They will study the baby’s features to figure out who he or she looks like. Sometimes the mom and dad will state incredulously, “We made that.”
They are not wrong. Biologically, they each carried out their part. The baby shares the genetic material of both parents. We can understand the sentiment, but it’s not the whole story.
It is inadequate for parents to say, “We made that.” David reminds us in Psalm 139 that God formed him in his mother’s womb. By God’s handiwork, he is fearfully and wonderfully made. His days were ordained for him by the will of God.
In similar fashion, Paul can find some measure of satisfaction that his labor among the Thessalonians had not been in vain. The seed of the gospel he had sown and the interactions he had proved fruitful.
Paul knew, though, that ultimately all the glory went to God. That’s why he says: “For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God” (1 Thess. 3:9).
The birth of a baby is just the beginning. Then comes life outside the womb where parents feed and nurture their offspring toward maturity. It works that way with spiritual offspring as well. Conversion is not the end; it is the beginning.
The apostle recognizes that in his desire to return and be involved in their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace. He goes to say: “night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith” (1 Thess. 3:10).
Paul expresses a particular intensity in his praying. He is not merely asking God that He pave the way to be with the Thessalonians, he is pleading. He implored God to make it happen.
Why was Paul so eager to be with them? It was not just to reunite in affectionate fellowship, although he desperately wanted to see them. Rather, he wanted involvement in their lives so that he could “perfect what was lacking” in their faith.
We hear echoes of the prayer ministry of Epaphras, a fellow servant of Christ at Colossae. “Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Col. 4:12).
Just as God gives new life in Christ, so God causes the growth. He has appointed men and means but He is the one who blesses those efforts. Epaphras serves as an example of seeking to perfect, that is, to foster maturity and completeness in them by God through the agency of prayer.
Paul has mentioned prayer for the Thessalonians in his letter but here in verse 10, he is speaking about being present with them to instruct them in the faith. Perhaps some of the areas for instruction in view are what Paul will go on to address in his letter, such as the need for sexual morality and a right understanding of the Lord’s return.
Throughout our lives as Christians, from new birth to glory, we need the sanctifying work of the Spirit through prayer and the word. More than that, we need to be reminded of where our salvation is found, something the Lord’s Supper emphasizes. In addition to being taught, we need to be rebuked, corrected, and trained in righteousness.
In what way does our faith need to be perfected?
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
