"That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation, even as it came to pass, and ye know."
1 Thessalonians 3:3-4
Part 2
Yesterday: Will We Follow Christ or the World?
“That no man should be moved.”
Our afflictions should not shake us loose from our Lord.
Today: Don’t Miss Your Appointment!
“By these afflictions.”
The mistreatment of God’s child and His godly line, from the devil and his evil followers and their posterity down through the ages, should come as no surprise for believers in Jesus. In Eden, the battle lines were clearly drawn. Some belong to Satan, “Ye are of your father the devil” (John 8:44). And some belong to the Lord, “Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:2). There is no middle ground; each person belongs to Satan from birth or through the Holy Spirit’s regenerative act of salvation to God the Father. And it is no surprise that since the devil and his followers hate God and His Son Jesus Christ, they will hate us also. And so, a believer’s afflictions are a normal part of his life in God’s family.
The ancient word for afflictions is a word that means “a pressing, pressing together, pressure.” It is used “metaphorically” for “oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits”[1] (Thayer).
“Some believe that the only kind of affliction a Christian should experience is persecution. The truth is that there are two ancient Greek words used to translate the concept of suffering, and neither of them is used exclusively in regard to persecution. Thilipsis was used for such things as physical pain, emotional hardships, and suffering under temptation. Pasko was used for such things as physical sufferings unrelated to persecution, suffering under temptation, and hardships in a general sense”[2] (Guzik).
Believers, we are susceptible to all of these forms of suffering. Inflicting suffering is the specialty of the satanic line. Believers, we should not fear anything the devil can throw at us.
David had seen many forms of suffering inflicted upon him from the devil’s line. But this was his experience,
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19).
Yes, “by life or by death,” our God will “deliver us from them all.”
“For yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.”
Paul wants to make sure that no one in Thessalonica thinks it is somehow an accident or mistake. These are no accidents; they are appointments! Because these afflictions are “Divine appointments,” they should not be shaken by them.
“We Are Appointed”
The Thessalonians were appointed to the afflictions they were having. Afflictions are always difficult, but we can handle them better when we realize they are always “Father Filtered.” This is true for all believers in Christ. In the context of this verse, the word “appointed” means “to be (by God’s intent) set, i.e., destined, appointed”[3] (Thayer).
“We Christians are set hereunto… to be beguiled by tribulations. We must resist” [4] (Robertson).
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:12-13).
Although adversity is never something we look forward to, neither do we shy away from it, for we know that our God is with us in our suffering, helping us bear our hardships.
Come back tomorrow as we look at Paul’s warning “that we should suffer tribulation.”
Quote: “God never allows pain without a purpose in the lives of His children. He never allows Satan, nor circumstances, nor any ill-intending person to afflict us unless He uses that affliction for our good. God never wastes pain. He always causes it to work together for our ultimate good, the good of conforming us more to the likeness of His Son (see Romans 8:28-29)”[5] (Jerry Bridges).
[1] J.H. Thayer, Thayer’s Greek Definitions, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] Guzik, David, the Enduring Word Commentary, the electronic version in eSword. 1 Thessalonians 3:3.
[3] J.H. Thayer, ibid.
[4] A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
[5] Bridges’ quote Downloaded: Wednesday, August 4, 2021. From: https://gracequotes.org/topic/affliction/. Transforming Grace, NavPress, 1991, p. 139.