Articles
We Give Thanks For You
We Give Thanks For You
Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church saying " 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. 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" (2Thess. 1:3-4). Three things stand out in these verses:
· First, their faith was growing strong.
· Second, their love for everyone for each other was increasing.
· Third, they were being steadfast in their faith and enduring the afflictions and persecutions.
Faith is like a living entity, it either is growing or it is dyeing. This is not just knowledge, but is their TRUST of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God WILL make things right - trust Him. Things may be bad now but God has promised us a home with Him wherein dwells truth, righteousness, and NO tears or sorrow. Those that do evil will be punished even though NOW it appears that they are ‘getting off scot-free’. Christians need to trust God.
As you experience the life that God has instructed us to life, you will discover that it brings about the very things God promises. Sometimes God’s instructions are not only difficult but they don’t make worldly sense. Such wisdom is not worldly wisdom! It is not designed to make us either happy or comfortable with worldly situations. It is designed to develop godly character so that we are prepared to live in the presence of God. So, we follow his teaching, trusting Him as we live in obedience. Each test and struggle overcome increases our faith. So it was with the Thessalonians.
As they worked together as God’s family, they learned to love one another. Love, like faith, also either is growing or dying. Theirs was growing.
As they grew in their faith and love, it provided for them to be steadfast in their walk with God. They were not moved by persecution and affliction. They did not waver in their faith. They suffered but did not entertain the idea of quitting. They were preparing to live with Jesus forever. They were confident that He would return and they would be caught up together in the air to be with the Lord forever.
The question that I ask myself, what would Paul write about us as a church? Could he write these three things concerning us? Hugh DeLong
