Paul’s prayer: (3:10-13):
Paul heard good news from Timothy, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted to see the face the family in Thessalonica. Paul wanted it enough to pray night and day most earnestly that God would make a way for him to see them.
In the midst of all this joy, Paul called attention to the fact that they were still lacking to make them perfect in faith although the Apostle repeatedly complimented them (1:3, 7; 2:13,19-20; 3:6).So he believed that his personal presence would be a help to the Thessalonians. Though his letter would encourage them, yet his personal presence would do more.
Paul was encouraged at the current state of the Thessalonians and by the fruit that Timothy’s ministry. Yet he prayed that God would direct his way to the Thessalonians. We have no record that Paul ever visited Thessalonica for the second time, but when he was travelling through Asia on his 3rd Missionary journey he was joined by Aristarchus and Secundus who were from Thessalonica (Acts 20:4-5). This shows that though Paul valued the ministry others brought to them, he believed that they still needed the instruction and encouragement only the apostles could give.
God’s love must increase in our lives and overflow to others. Paul prays for the believers of Thessalonica that they may find themselves blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when the Lord Jesus Christ returns in His second coming.