We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” 2 Thes 1:3,4
Paul begins his letter with the normal salutation of most of his letters. “Grace and Peace come from God and Jesus Christ.” God is the source and the only source of lasting grace and peace. Paul is with Silas and Timothy and writes to them from Corinth.
Can you imagine the encouragement it is to know your relatives and friends in Florida are all right after the devastating hurricane and flooding? News from Ukraine is welcomed news when we hear those we support are thriving and ministry is advancing. Love for the brothers and sisters undergoing persecution is a concern to Paul and his friends. News of advancing in Christ brings much joy.
Paul praises the Thessalonians and tells them he thanks God for them and the way their faith is growing and growing, and the way their love is increasing. He wants them to know how well they were doing in spite of suffering and being persecuted for their commitment to Jesus. Indeed, Paul is so proud of their spiritual progress, that he is bragging about their faith to the other young churches using them as examples of the importance of commitment to Jesus even if it means tough times.
Notice the three areas of praise.
- He praises them for their growing faith.
- There are two ways for faith to grow. Trust Jesus even when times are tough.
- The second way to grow in faith is being in the Word.
- Thirdly, Paul is also complementing them on their increased love for one another. Love is seen. "By this shall all men know you are my disciple, Jesus said, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35)
The perseverance in the midst of suffering is what made Paul especially proud. This proved to him they were trusting God and not their own power. They refused to quit in the midst of hardship. New believers can expect faith to be tried. This is one way God shows us whether our faith is genuinely in Jesus or in the nice thought of religion.
We continue to see increased persecution in our times in various parts of the world. Middle East is as strong as ever against any Christian influence.
Application: God rewards faithfulness. He praises us in our perseverance. In your times of trouble do not quit. God is at work.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be faithful to You and Your Word in good times and in trials. Help me to see the trials I go through as methods of growing me up in You and Your Word
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