1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 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.4 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.
5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 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,10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflection
- Chapter in a Glance: Paul thanked God for the tremendous growth in the faith, love and perseverance of the Thessalonians. They kept their faith while going through much persecution, this is evidence that God is just. God will repay the persecutors but grant relief to the believers. Paul prayed often for them that God may be glorified in them.
- The Thessalonians endured persecutions and afflictions. And this became evidence that God’s judgment was right because God did not leave them to their own resources but provided strength to endure, and this in turn produced spiritual and moral character. It also proved that God was on their side and gave a warning to their persecutors.
- How can God’s justice encourage you when things are “just not fair”?
- If someone were to pray for you as Paul did in verses 11-12, what is one specific way in which you would want God to change your life?
Prayer & Journaling:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you.
If you have a prayer journal, as you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that has come to your mind during this time.
Family Time (Begin this time by reading the passage above using a children’s Bible. If your children are younger, you may read vv 3-4 only.)
The church of the Thessalonians had perseverance and faith in its trails. Families that work together in perseverance and faith can overcome many obstacles – such as a child on drugs, an alcoholic parent, a time of financial reversal, a move to another city when no one wants to go. Talk about times in which your family has persevered to overcome difficulty.
Proverbs for Today 23:22-25
22 Listen to your father who gave you life,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy truth, and do not sell it;
buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
25 Let your father and mother be glad;
let her who bore you rejoice.