I. We have to notice very carefully to whom this ejaculatory prayer is addressed: Now God Himself, even our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. It is quite evident that our Lord and Saviour, the Man Christ Jesus, the ascended and glorified Redeemer, is in the Apostle's thought viewed as standing in the same relation to human prayer as God the Father. The prayer of Paul's heart is addressed to both. While our Lord is distinguished from the Father in personality, He is one with Him in godhead, and therefore is He rightly addressed in the language of prayer. Prayer is the voice of human weakness addressed to infinite power.
II. The circle of Christian love, the sphere of its influence, is wide as humanity itself. There is to be no limit to its diffusion. Christianity has broken down all barriers of race or of creed. The question "Who is my neighbour?" ought never to be uttered by Christian lips. Increasing and abounding in love may be regarded as the end of all Christian striving, for after all it is the possession of this grace which brings men on earth nearest to the gates of heaven. But it is represented in the present connection rather as an end than as a means. "To the end He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness." He would teach them that Christian love, going out towards others in blessing, comes back again laden with new blessings to the soul. The hearts of Christ's people become in this way established. The heart in this way becomes united. Such a loving heart diffuses the fragrance of its own sweet life, the life of holiness, and is thus rewarded by being declared blameless, and that too in the sight of God.
III. Even amid the imperfections and limitations of earth and time, something of this experience is the believer's possession. But none the less the more advanced he is in the Divine life, the more is he conscious of doubts and waverings of heart; the more does he feel himself blameworthy, the more does he mourn over his unholiness in the sight of God his Father. Hence the Apostle in the closing clause carries our thoughts forward to that
"one far-off Divine event,
To which the whole creation moves."
Then truly and fully are Christ's people before God, even their Father, beholding the King's face.
J. Hutchison, Lectures on Thessalonians,p. 127.
References: 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13. Preacher's Monthly,vol. vi., p. 257. 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:13. Ibid.,vol. ii., p. 420. 3 E. H. Higgins, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xvi., p. 221. 1 Thessalonians 4:1. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. iv., p. 89; Plain Sermons by Contributors to" Tracts for the Times" vol. iv., p. 9. 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:10. E. W. Benson, Three Sermons,p. 26.