Have
you ever wished that someone had given you encouragement when you really needed
it? A few words of encouragement can really make our day brighter. We see an
example of this in the reading we heard from 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4,11-12.
Knowing
that his words would fill the Thessalonian believers with the humble desire to
do better, Paul praised them for their growing faith despite tremendous
persecution. Earthly troubles can be great soil for the growth of faith. Paul
reassures the Thessalonians that his giving thanks to them is both legitimate
and necessary because of their misunderstanding of the Lord’s return. He gave
thanks for their increasing faith and love in difficult circumstances. The
Thessalonians have set an example for us as Christians to follow. Difficult
circumstances are not excuses for us to lose faith. On the contrary, they are
opportunities for our faith to grow.
The
Thessalonians demonstrated patience. They endured in spite of hardships. They
took their suffering and used it in positive, creative ways. In doing so, they
showed love to each other. Paul also praised the Thessalonians for their
abounding love toward each other. Rather than living according to their own
self-interest, as suffering people often do, the Thessalonian believers had
reached out to one another.
When
Paul adds the word “tribulation” to the word “persecution,” he expands the
meaning to include not only what people did to the Thessalonians but their
everyday difficulties. Yet their persevering patience testified to God’s power
and the reality of their faith---things that Paul could boast about to other
churches. The word “boast” simply means that Paul could hold up the
Thessalonian believers as good examples.
Trials
do not make us what we are: they reveal
what we are. Some of the most compelling evidence of God at work in the
Christian life comes when a person is overwhelmed by troubles and yet still
serves Him, fulfilling the work of faith with power. God will deal with those
who hurt us in his own time and in his own way. We have a spiritual obligation
to thank God in prayer when He accomplishes great things through us.
In
our spiritual walk we will face many challenges to our faith. We can prepare
ourselves to face these challenges by studying the experiences of faith of
those who have gone before us. That includes studying the Bible. Our calling
from God on our lives won’t be easy. When God asks us to do something, he will
give us the grace and strength we need to do his work and make it through any
difficulties we face.
When
we walk with God, we are united with fellow Christians. When we walk with God,
we become worthy of the calling Jesus has given us. More important, however, is
the fact that we will be worthy to enter the Kingdom.
We
need both grace and peace to get to our God-given destinations. We are saved by
God’s grace through faith. We don’t deserve God’s grace, but he still gives it
do us. Grace opens the door to salvation, but it also gives us the strength we
need to live the lives God has called us to live here on earth. Peace is just
as powerful as grace. Peace means that we are one with God in thought, word and
deed. We are settled relationally with God and with each other, and nothing can
change that. God’s grace and peace allow us to grow n every area of our lives,
including our love for others. Love is the greatest thing, and that’s all that
matters in eternity.
For
the people to be worthy of God’s calling in their lives means they should live
in harmony with their ultimate destiny. In other words, because they belong in
Christ and are bound for heaven, they should act like it. That includes growing
spiritually wherever we are in life. If we don’t grow spiritually, we will
stagnate.
Jesus
is glorified through His people’s response to adversity. As believers represent
the Lord amid times of trouble, they will find their faith strengthened, their
hope sharpened, and their love stimulated. We can glorify God when we live our
lives to our very best. When we do the biggest thing even when the wrong things
are happening all around us, that brings honour to God. He is glorified when we
put him first in everything we do.
When
we strive to please God and do His will by tapping into the Spirit’s power, we
show that Jesus is Lord and infinitely worthy of our service. Those who have
never heard or accepted the Gospel will suffer eternal separation from God.
When Christ comes again, he will raise the faithful to be with Him. Christ’s
goodness will be seen in them and their goodness will be seen in Him. This will
be achieved through God’s grace-the same grace he offers to all of us today.
All we have to do is reach out in faith and take it.
Bibliography
1.
Jeremiah,
David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy
Publishing; 2013; pp. 1693)
2.
ESV Study
Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
7.
Demarest,
G.W. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s
Commentary Series, Vol. 32: 1,2 Thessalonians/1,2 Timothy/Titus (Nashville,
TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1984, pp. 108-111)
8.
MacArthur,
J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New
American Standard Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006)
9.
Stanley,
C.F.; The Charles F. Stanley Life
Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles,
2005)
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