2 Thessalonians, Day 1
2 Thessalonians, Chapter 1
Can’t help but thank God for you! . . . (2 Thessalonians 1)
“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. We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering” (2 Thessalonians 1:3 – 4, NLT)
In these verses, Paul tells us about an incredible church that was making an impact for the kingdom. He was so impressed that he used their story to encourage other churches. Paul thanks them for being people of flourishing faith, with a mutual growing love for each other, committed to endurance and faithfulness in persecution. In the final part of the chapter, Paul declares his commitment to pray that God would “enable them to live a life worthy of God’s call.” Paul also prayed that God would provide “the power to accomplish all the good things their faith prompts them to do” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).
What an incredible prayer for a community that was suffering oppression! They were keeping their eyes on Christ, faithfully committed to unity in their mission. We can learn so much from this group of believers. Their lives provide some great questions for all of us to answer.
First, are we people of flourishing faith? The early church was known as a community of flourishing faith. When we study their journey, it provides a beautiful picture of the power of flourishing faith in a community. God did extraordinary things with these faithful pioneers. They pushed forward in faith and saw God do extraordinary things in their lives and in the lives of the people they impacted with the message of the Gospel. When we look back on our journey together as a body of believers, will we be known as a community of flourishing faith?
Second, how are we doing with growing in our love for those around us? This season has really stretched all of us in this area. We are surrounded by so many issues, with so many different perspectives, and with a cultural stress level that is through the roof. In the midst of the chaos, has your love grown for those around you? If love is a choice, then the question for all of us is, “Are we using this season to grow in our love for each other?” My prayer is that we grow in this area by making this choice as we continue to exist outside of our comfort zone in this season. Don’t forget — praying for people is a great way to grow in our love for them. So get to it!
Third, how are we doing with stick-to-itiveness? In the midst of the persecution around us, are we being faithful? Notice that Paul used two characteristics of the community to paint the picture of their flourishing faith: faithfulness and perseverance. From his use of these words, we can see that the people in this church were authentic, dependable, and could count on each other. It didn’t matter how hot the frying pan was — they were in it together! They were truly “living a life worthy of God’s call” in their commitment to love each other, driven by the power of the Spirit in their lives, which set them apart.
The first chapter of 2 Thessalonians is a great text to read and study as we journey together in this unpredictable season. It is a call to a flourishing faith, mutual growth (love), and faithful perseverance in oppression. I want to challenge you to evaluate yourself in these three areas: faith, love, and perseverance. Celebrate your strength(s) on the list, but then spend some time opening your heart and letting God work on the weak spots. If one of your weak spots is faithfulness, remember He is faithful (2 Thessalonians 3:3). If one of your weak spots is unity with those around you, humble yourself and see them as Jesus sees them (1 Corinthians 1:10). Finally, if you’re holding on by a thread, recognize that God is right there with you. He will be the righteous right hand that protects you (Isaiah 41:10) and guides you into his perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).
Pastor Chuck