Scripture | 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20 “For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting? Is it not even you, before our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.”

Observation | As Paul looks forward to the return of Christ and our day of accounting (Matt 25:19; Lk 19:15; Rom 14:10-12), he finds his brothers in Christ to be a cause of “hope,” “joy,” and “boasting.” Let’s look at each of these responses one at a time.

In the original language “Hope” carries the idea of a confident expectation of something in the future. What did Paul have confident expectation in in this text? His brothers in Christ at the Lord’s return. This “hope” is another way of saying Paul saw the way the lives of his brothers in Christ brought glory to the Lord.

“Joy” is the Greek word “chara” in the original writings. This is a special word for our family, as our youngest daughter is named Chara after this word in James 1:2-3 “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance.” Her name is a reminder that the maturing and growing result of trials are a reason for joy.

What is joy then? One lexicon translates “chara” as “great happiness.” There is a connection here to the work of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). Believers are able to find this great happiness even in trials (Col 1:11;1 Thess 1:6). Biblical joy is a result of knowing the eternal and spiritual truth that our sufferings and hardships here on earth are not eternal, except for the opportunity they give us to show greater glory to God in our responses of faith and obedience. Think of the difference it makes when someone complains about trials or self-pities in hardships verses when someone joyfully quotes scripture, sings praise and bows in prayer in their hard times. It is a fact that the greater a hardship is, the greater there is opportunity to bring glory to God. Biblical joy in hard times always brings God great glory.

Beyond hope and joy, Paul even “boasts” in his Christian brothers in Thessalonica. The original word for “boast” can be translated “pride” or “exalt.” Here we learn that not all boasting is actually sin. For example, when we boast in the Lord it is a praise and glorifying of His greatness or His great deeds (Rom 15:17). When we boast in another then, it is actually an honoring and rejoicing in the work that God has done in them or for them (1 Cor 15:31; 2 Cor 7:4, 7:14, 8:24). Boasting, is like our English word bragging. If we brag up God, we do well. If we brag up others regarding God’s work in their lives, we do well. If we brag about ourselves, and boast in self-glory, we do evil (Ja 4:16).

Application | What awesome language of Christian love and delight! The life of faith of others moved Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to hope, joy, and boasting. Do we have true believers in our lives whose faith and obedience move us in the same way? Maybe we need to find some. Take time today to reflect and give God praise for some fellow believers who give you hope and joy, or pray for some.

Prayer | Father, I confess, too often my life and thoughts revolve around me. Turn my eyes to look outward at the work You are doing in others so that I might have more hope and more joy in You. Help me to rejoice in the blessings You give others, the victories You give others, the understanding of Scripture that You give others, and the maturity in faith and obedience You work in others. So that would I boast more for Your glory, and Your glory alone. Amen