1 Thessalonians 2:20

The special fruits of our labours are not lost; they are found again at the coming of Christ. Our chief personal joy is to see the Lord Himself and to be like Him. This is the portion of all saints; but there are particular fruits connected with the work of the Spirit in us and by us... The coming of Christ would crown this energy: these believers would stand in the glory as the fruit of his labours. And the love that had worked in Paul's heart would find its satisfaction in seeing those it loved in glory, in the presence of Jesus.

We may say, is it not the Lord Himself who is to be "our hope or joy or crown of boasting"? No doubt this is true. Yet He so delights to identify Himself with His saints that the apostle's heart overflows with joy at the Lord's own joy in having all His own in His presence... Not that it was his labours that he was thinking of, but of them in whose blessing he delighted.

For a time the enemy might seem to triumph, and those he was using as tools might frustrate the desires of Paul's heart. But where will Satan and his instruments of malice be when Paul and the saints meet in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Notice also how happily Paul looked forward to reunion with his beloved Thessalonian converts in heaven. His words would have been meaningless had he not expected to know them each and all in that day. The saints of God will know one another when they meet at the coming of Christ and in His presence.

The presence, or coming, of the Lord does not necessarily mean judgment... So when the apostle says, "What is our hope or joy or crown of boasting?"... where is the word of judgment on evil? ... The coming of the Lord may include the day of the Lord, as a whole includes a part. But the coming of the Lord is in itself presented in grace, not in judgment.

Who does he mean by "you"? A class among believers, those of special merit, of unusual holiness or extraordinary devotion? Or does he mean everyone the letter is written to, "the church of the Thessalonians"? There can be only one answer. He means them all, every one who by God's grace had turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven.

The Thessalonians will be Paul's crown, but they will not be ours; that is clear... in glory Paul will have them as his crown, yet he will not take away Christ's crown. It was all grace that did it, though Christ is pleased to reward faithful labour... The reward has nothing to do with motive, and never is the motive for action in scripture; it is the encouragement in the service.

Some time ago I read a statement in a magazine. It said that holding the doctrine of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ drains your strength, and that nobody would be anxious about service, missions, and things of that kind. What could be more untrue? Here I find the apostle full of energy. He longs for the conversion of the people he was sent to, and he labours tirelessly as he looks for the coming of Christ.