Verse: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
Devotion
Paul started many churches during his travels and, after he left to go to the next area needing the good news, he would keep track of how they were doing. As could be expected, these new believers faced a lot of resistance to their spiritual growth. Some people wanted to preach a different gospel to them; some wanted to profit from them, and some wanted to kill them. And these two verses at the beginning of the second letter to the Thessalonians says they were growing and persevering in the face of persecution and trials.
While we are likely not facing the same degree of persecution that they were, we are living in a culture that sees faith in God as irrelevant, out of date, or naïve. By association, we are then categorized in the same way. You may not hear this to your face, but you might if you are a young person. Even if you don’t, you can read about it and hear it in the news.
How do you deal with that? It can be tough to be on the opposite side of the current culture. I think that this encouragement to the Thessalonians has some clues in how we should react. First, he thanks God that their faith is growing and even boasts about their faith in the face of trials. We need to grow in our faith so that we know why we believe what we believe. Most of those people that deny faith do not know why. They have vague answers about science or basic questions about God’s existence. The more we understand and practice our faith, the easier it becomes to stand firm.
The second thing that Paul says is that their love for each other is increasing. Recognize that everyone in the fellowship of believers is dealing with these current trials and needs support. It is so important that we love each other as a counter measure to the negative emotions that come our way. Some of us may be the only believer in our family! We need to come alongside those Christians that need love and support.
Lastly, Paul boasts about the Thessalonians’ perseverance through all their persecution. Perseverance. Staying the course. Every day asking God to direct our steps and guide us and protect us. Going to church. Worshiping Him. Reading His word.
So if you are down today because it is hard to live a Christian life in today’s society, take heart. God sees your spiritual growth and your love for others. Step out and call someone that needs to hear a kind word. Spend a little longer reading the Bible and listening for God’s direction for you. Then notice how you are no longer feeling down but are lifted up with Him.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help us today to follow you. Raise our desire to learn your ways. Bring to mind those that we can love. Help us to live fruitful, peaceful lives that are a reflection of you and your love for us.
Author: Brad Dunn
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