Paul expressed his deep concern for the faith of his brethren in Thessalonica, knowing that they were going to suffer tribulation and being troubled that “by some means the tempter had tempted” them (1 Thess. 3:4-5). Twice in those first five verses of chapter three, Paul wrote, “when we could no longer endure it…when I could no longer endure it,” he sent Timothy to check on them and encourage them. When Timothy returned to Paul with “good news of [their] faith and love,” Paul’s response was, “For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord” (3:6-8).
What if his brethren were not standing fast in the Lord? The implication is that he would not be able to endure it, he would not be able to live with himself.
Here’s the question for us: what if our brethren (our own brothers and sisters in Christ, whom we know and with whom we serve God) were not standing fast in the Lord? Could we endure it? Could we live with ourselves? Or, would we go right on living without taking notice?