2 Thessalonians 1
2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
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 are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,
4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,
5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;
6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,
7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,
12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
With the calling and choosing we’ve received, there is great promise of reward and blessing in eternal life. While it is already ours, however, the living of it may not be without significant opposition. The overflowing of love for each other, which is this life’s most significant purpose, will be highly challenged through tribulations and life circumstances that would divert focus from love to self. Considering that Christ has been our example in this by laying down His own life to pour out love, being worthy of His sacrifice does not come with our calling; it requires endurance through whatever would rob us of our gift. There is an end to what the world can throw at us, but the real concern should be for the judgment to be administered in the end. Jesus’ blood has provided amazing grace to all, but finding and walking in that grace in a manner worthy of its price seems to be a necessary element in how we will be judged in the end. Ensuring this endurance, then, is a great driving passion in this communication, and the prayers continually prayed for them. The same goal he is pressing towards is projected in turn on those to whom Paul has devoted his life and ministry.
We are made worthy in Christ not because of what you’ve done but because of what He has done. Not only made worthy in Him but also called to fulfill His plans and purposes for your life.
I see this as a challenge to walk worthily, not because we are trying to gain anything but because we were so freely given that we should honor what was done for us and in us. In walking in Christ, we are enabled to spread the glory of God to those around us because of our position in Him.