Reflections from November 22, 2010

Today we read through 2 Thessalonians, Paul's letter of encouragement to the Church in Thessalonica. Paul's words of encouragement are scattered throughout his letter and we see some of them in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our god and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Whether you just need encouraging, or you are under persecution as were the early Christians to whom Paul wrote, God calls us as His people to finish our lives well by holding on to the truths that last. He challenges us to maintain life-long faithfulness and not to be entirely caught up in the here and now, whether good or bad.

Paul writes further words on encouragement at 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."

As believers, we have a powerful, caring active God working on our behalf. For the first century Christian at Thessalonica, that was a distinct contrast to the many gods of the surrounding Greek and Roman cultures that were often passive, sometimes capricious, and terribly self-absorbed. Likewise in our own day, our God is infinitely more powerful and personal than the vague "higher power" to which many people allude. I am thankful to have a close, personal relationship with Jesus and with our Father, and hope to get closer to Him day by day. How about you?

And finally, in 2 Thessalonians 3:13, Paul gives a simple word of encouragement by saying, "But as for you brethren, do not grow weary in doing good."

These words serve as a reminder that when we grow weary of holding to high standards of integrity or performance, or if we begin to resent a lack of recognition, we can remember that God doesn't forget. We'll see others "work" very hard to avoid work and then get away with it!

Just keep in mind that God never forgets you. You are the object of His attention and love. He sees the good that you do when no one else is around -- and He'll never forget it!

Blessings to all