Day 606: 2 Thessalonians 1- Endurance And Grace

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
The Judgment at Christ's Coming5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Meditation
God’s promises will propel the endurance of your faith and your participation in showing God’s glory. In a world of suffering and struggle God gives hope, strength to sustain. In a life where we look for purpose, God has prepared works for your participation in His glory story.
 
Paul celebrates the church in Thessalonica for their steadfast faith in the midst of affliction and persecution (4).  The faith and love of the church was growing (3) as persecution was increasing (5). Paul feeds their hope by reminding them that the time before Christ’s return is brief. When Jesus returns it will be woe for God’s enemies and welcome for Christians. Judgment, “punishment of eternal destruction,” will fall on people persecuting Christ’s body while the saints will enter into glory that God has prepared (5-10). Some of these verses can be difficult to digest but they also propel us forward with endurance to share this great grace we have received.
 
Paul empowers the church to persevere through promised hope. Paul encourages participation through promoting glory. When Christ returns in glory all the saints will glorify him. Until Christ returns the Church should celebrate Christ’s glory by participating in Christ’s work, to “fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by Christ’s power, SO THAT the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified” (11-12). Good works of faith are intended to glorify God alone!
 
 
Richly Dwelling
-Do you feel the need for your faith to be strengthened to endure? Do you need a reminder of the purpose for which God created and saved you?
 
-How does the sure return of Christ strengthen your faith, feed hope, and compel you to love for Christ’s glory?
 
-The purpose clause, “SO THAT…” compels us to consider how Jesus can get more glory in all our life, labor, and love. What does an increase of Christ’s glory through you look like in your daily steps? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.