Encouragement during Persecution

 Meditations on 2 Thessalonians

June 29, 2021

Encouragement during Persecution

Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 

Read: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-7a

This is one of the shortest of Paul’s letters. But if 2 Thessalonians was all you had, you would have all you need. The theological summary here is more than sufficient to ground an individual and a church in Christian principles for life.

Paul reminds the church that Christ is coming again. (As he did in every chapter of 1 Thessalonians.) In the words of the Nicene Creed, “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.” Paul assures the church that those who are in a right relationship with God through faith in Jesus will have no fear on that glorious day.

Paul also reminds the church that God knows of their persecution, and he knows of those who refuse to obey His truth. On the glorious day of Christ’s return, God’s justice will prevail and the faithful will be vindicated. For those who chose to go their own way and not be reconciled with God, they will get their wish for all eternity as they will be forever separated from Christ and His mighty power.

Paul reminds the church that to be in Christ is to live as a part of the Welcoming Committee for Jesus. We will get to greet Him on His glorious return and lead His procession. To be a part of the Welcoming Committee is to be working now to make ready our world and prepare for the arrival of our King. How do you do that? I have two answers to that question and they are both in the verse quoted above.

First, flourishing faith includes growth in knowledge and also the maturing of virtues such as integrity, temperance, courage, justice and mercy. Secondly, love for one another is hugely important to Jesus – see John 13:35 and Revelation 2:4.

My Takeaway: The church in Thessalonica was being persecuted because they stood with God over and against the prevailing culture of their times. Is my church? Do I cherish this promise?

“And God will use this persecution to show his justice

and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.” (v.5)

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved