- 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. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 – It’s easy in our families to get caught up with how the kids are doing in school, how well work is going, and if people did their chores to determine whether you’re thankful to God for that day. Paul here though is setting his eyes on something a little different. His thankfulness is for the growth spiritually he is seeing in people and the love they have for each other increasing. While those other things we talked about before are beautiful things to be thankful for, make sure that if God is growing the faith of those around you and the people close to you are growing in love for each other, be abundantly thankful for that. If you are growing in your faith and growing in your love for people be thankful for that too. It’s showing you that God is working in your life and the people’s lives that are close to you as well. That’s something amazing to be thankful for. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac
- 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. 2 Thessalonians 1:4 – Your enduring can inspire others to endure. One reason Paul wrote this second letter to the church of the Thessalonians was to address the growing persecution they were facing. From all around this small Christian church was feeling pressure and pain, yet they continued in the faith and increased their love for one another. Within our verse we see Paul encouraged by what he hears taking place within the church there and also shares that good news with other churches to encourage them. We too can be an encouragement to others when we navigate a struggle and remain faithful to God. How we react to the struggle, what we turn to while in it, and how we relate to God in the midst of the pain can be a true help to others navigating their own struggles. We can help them see we don’t have to let go our our faith when the struggle comes but lean further into the faith we have for support. So would you say if someone were to see how you handled your last struggle that they would be inspired to lean deeper into their own faith? That through you and through your struggle they’d see God really can help them. Let’s lean in rather than away from God when our own struggles come so those watching us can see God can be their refuge in times of trouble. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1551
- …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…2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 – Paul is writing his second letter to the church of the Thessalonians, and while still holding some encouragements like his first letter, Paul uses this second letter to correct some false ways of belief that were arising in the church. Here the church is experiencing sufferings, and some had caused the church to believe that the sufferings were the result that the day of the Lord already took place and they missed it. Paul here reminds the church that the suffering they are seeing is not because the Lord has returned and is bringing that judgement, but because in our world today there are those who don’t know God and don’t want anything to do with His gospel message. Their sinfulness, when not dealt with at the cross of Jesus, brings the judgement of God’s wrath on themselves, and sadly even faithful followers of Jesus feel the ripples of sin and its judgement within their lives. Seeing here from scripture how eternal sin’s punishment is and the nature of the punishment is forever separation from God’s presence, also seeing how even we will feel the effects of other’s sin in our life, let us be all the more active in sharing the Gospel. Yes, as with this church, there will be people in our life that don’t want to know anything about God and don’t want anything to do with His gospel. Let though the presence of rejecters not hold us back from sharing the message to those who may still embrace it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2777
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