保羅的牧養關顧
帖撒羅尼迦前書二章17節至三章13節
17弟兄們，我們暫時與你們離別，是面目離別，心裡卻不離別；我們極力地想法子，很願意見你們的面，
18所以我們有意到你們那裡。我保羅有一兩次要去，只是撒但阻擋了我們。
19我們的盼望和喜樂並所誇的冠冕是甚麼呢？豈不是我們主耶穌來的時候，你們在他面前站立得住嗎？
20因為你們就是我們的榮耀，我們的喜樂。
1我們既不能再忍，就願意獨自等在雅典，
2打發我們的兄弟在基督福音上作神執事的提摩太前去（註：“作神執事的”有古卷作“與神同工的”）堅固你們，並在你們所信的道上勸慰你們，
3免得有人被諸般患難搖動，因為你們自己知道，我們受患難原是命定的。
4我們在你們那裡的時候預先告訴你們，我們必受患難，以後果然應驗了，你們也知道。
5為此，我既不能再忍，就打發人去，要曉得你們的信心如何，恐怕那誘惑人的到底誘惑了你們，叫我們的勞苦歸於徒然。
6但提摩太剛才從你們那裡回來，將你們信心和愛心的好消息報給我們，又說你們常常記念我們，切切地想見我們，如同我們想見你們一樣。
7所以弟兄們，我們在一切困苦患難之中，因著你們的信心就得了安慰。
8你們若靠主站立得穩，我們就活了。
9我們在神面前，因著你們甚是喜樂，為這一切喜樂，可用何等的感謝為你們報答神呢？
10我們晝夜切切地祈求，要見你們的面，補滿你們信心的不足。
11願神我們的父和我們的主耶穌，一直引領我們到你們那裡去；
12又願主叫你們彼此相愛的心，並愛眾人的心，都能增長、充足，如同我們愛你們一樣；
13好使你們當我們主耶穌同他眾聖徒來的時候，在我們父神面前心裡堅固，成為聖潔，無可責備。
信息分享
除了為教會禱告之外，保羅還會去探訪教會。早些時候，他因為記掛帖撒羅尼迦教會的弟兄姊妹，便打發他的同工提摩太去到他們中間，了解他們的情況，並藉機勉勵和堅固他們。（三2）
提摩太帶回來的報告令保羅十分振奮；這回是保羅因此深受激勵（7節）。保羅在這段期間似乎是心身受壓，可是，當他聽到提摩太帶回的好消息，便整個人振奮起來。
本章的最後三節是一個祈禱，當中充分顯出保羅的牧者心腸。他渴望他們能在基督裡不住成長，學習彼此相愛，也愛護眾人（12節），並祈求他們在主裡堅固成長。
事實上，每位牧者都應該這樣為他的會眾禱告，而每位信徒也應該努力邁向此目標。當今教會最需要學習的功課，莫過於信徒之間彼此相愛；唯有這樣，信徒之間才不會互相批評、彼此妒忌，而且，信徒也會愈來愈像基督。這豈不是很值得追求的目標嗎？
有時，聖靈會指出我們在言語和行爲上缺乏愛心。
我們要經常留意聖靈的提醒，因祂深知我們各人的需要。聖靈唯一的心願，是要在我們的生命中彰顯耶穌基督。我們願意讓聖靈成就祂來的目的嗎？
PAUL'S PASTORAL CARE
1 Thessalonians 2: 17 to 3: 13
17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.
18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
20 For you are our glory and joy.
1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone,
2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,
3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.
5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you—
7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith.
8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God,
10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,
13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
Message
Paul not only prayed for them but he also visited the churches. In this case because of his concern for them, he sent Timothy, one of his team members, to report on their welfare. Timothy was to encourage and strengthen them, too (3:2).
Timothy’s report thrilled Paul. This time it was Paul who was encouraged (v.7). He seemed to have been under stress just then and the good news from Thessalonica was uplifting to him in every way.
The last three verses of Chapter three form a prayer. They revealed beautifully Paul's heart as a pastor. He told them of his desire for them to grow in Christ like love toward each other and for everyone else (v.12) He prayed that they would grow stronger in the Lord.
This should be the desire of every pastor for his people and also be the aim of every believer. The greatest need in our churches is certainly in the area of love for each other. That would prevent criticism. It would stop jealousy and it would make us more like Christ. Isn't that worth aiming at?
Sometimes the Spirit of God will convict us of our lack of love in our speech or our behaviour.
Listen always to the Spirit's voice. He knows our individual needs. His only desire is to reproduce Jesus Christ in our lives. Are we letting Him do what He has come to do?