Please read 2 Thessalonians 1.
Meditate on verse 4.
We ourselves speak proudly of you among the
churches of God for your perseverance
and faith in the midst of all your persecutions
and afflictions which you endure.
Not long after writing his first letter to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul wrote a second one to encourage them as they continued to experience much persecution. Miraculously, their faith and love were growing despite affliction (vs. 3-4). Paul told them that churches around the world were being told about their faith, inspiring them to also persevere. Paul reminded the Thessalonians to keep their focus on eternity, when Christ “comes to be glorified in His saints and to be marveled at among all who believed” (v. 10). It helps to remember how the story ends when times are tough.
Take encouragement from this letter as if it were written personally to you. When your faith is enlarged and your love for others grows, you encourage others in their walk with Christ. When you are afflicted, keep your thoughts on eternity, for the LORD Jesus will deal out retribution to those who do not know God and obey His Gospel (vs. 7-8).
Pray Paul’s prayer from 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).
“God, count _________ and me worthy of our calling
and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith
with power so that Your name, LORD Jesus, will
be glorified in us and us in You.
According to Your grace, God and LORD Jesus Christ~”
The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 3 -Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell
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