What Kind of Love Won’t Let Go? – 1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:13 | Video Devotion with Dave Miers
Aug 12, 2026 25157
Paul was accused of abandoning this church. What he shows instead is a love that won’t let go.
[Watch this week’s video devotion with Dave Miers]
Okay, picture this. The Apostle Paul has been away from Thessalonica for a while now, and he hasn’t been able to return as he’d hoped. It seems like he copped some criticism for his absence.
In this week’s passage – from the end of 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 all the way through chapter 3 – he basically explains his absence. If the first part of chapter 2 showed his heart for this young church, this section gets even deeper.
Reading this passage made me think: what actually proves you love people you’re not even with? Anyone can say that they care about you from a distance, and I think this passage actually backs up that claim for Paul.
Now, before we jump to ourselves too quickly, Paul’s role as an Apostle was one-of-a-kind. He planted this church; he has a unique God-given authority over it, and can claim a spiritual fatherhood and motherhood over this church in a way that we cannot.
And yet – I think we catch a glimpse of his love for a church that is a great example for us to follow in different ways.
The Big Question: what does love for the church look like when you can’t be in the room?
There are three things I want you to notice about the genuineness of Paul’s love from a distance.
1/ LOVE THAT COSTS
Check out chapter 2, verses 17 and 18,
[17] But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, [18] because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. (1 Thessalonians 2:17–18 ESV)
Paul is attributing his absence from them to Satan hindering their return. It’s a reminder that Paul was constantly in a spiritual battle as he sought to fulfil his ministry as an apostle of Jesus Christ.
Look at what he does when he can bear the absence no more, from chapter 3, verse 1 to 2.
[1] Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, [2] and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, (1 Thessalonians 3:1–2 ESV)
Paul chooses to stay behind in Athens by himself and sends Timothy in his place. Timothy would have been of significant assistance to Paul, so sending him ahead was costly love.
2/ LOVE THAT REJOICES
While Paul may have been absent, the love was real, and his joy at their progress was big!
Look at chapter 2, verses 19 and 20,
[19] For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? [20] For you are our glory and joy. (1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 ESV)
These believers are so precious to Paul that he knows that on the day of the Lord Jesus they will be his hope, his joy, and his crown. And that joy springs forward; he can celebrate that glory and joy while they wait for the day of the Lord, and even while they are apart.
Later on in chapter 3, Paul hears a great report from Timothy about the progress of their faith and love. And so he says this in verse 8,
[8] For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 3:8 ESV)
Paul is undergoing his own affliction – but the reports of their steadfast faith in Jesus give him such joy that he can say: for now we live!
Their spiritual health becomes his own joy in the Lord.
3/ LOVE THAT PRAYS
Look at some of the things that Paul prays out of his great love for this church in chapter 3 from verse 10 to 13,
[10] as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? [11] Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, [12] and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, [13] so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:10–13 ESV)
He’s earnest in his prayer; he longs to see them again, and he asks that God will continue his work in them. That they will keep growing in love for one another and holiness in how they live changed lives in response to the gospel of Jesus.
The question we began with about Paul…
What does love for the church look like when you can’t be in the room?
The answer? Paul demonstrates
Love that costs
Love that rejoices
Love that prays
The Good News is…
Jesus has already shown that type of love, perfectly.
His love cost him – he loved the church and gave himself up for her (see Ephesians 5:25)
His love rejoices – he’s able to present us blameless before the Father’s presence with great joy (see Jude 24)
And right now, his love prays – the Risen Jesus always lives to intercede for us at the Father’s right hand (see Hebrews 7:25).
Paul could love the Thessalonians with a costly, joyful, praying love because he himself had already been loved that way by Jesus. And so can we.
Further reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13
Rev. Dave Miers
President, Good News Unlimited