Week 2, Sunday December 4
RESPONDING TO THE PROMISE
2 Thessalonians 1:5-12
Vs 11-12
To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfill every good resolve and work of faith by his power, 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.
This prayer in verses 11 and 12 is intentionally connected to the faithfulness of God; when the Christian responds to this faithfully, the Lord is glorified.
In our lives, God is constantly pursuing us, asking us: “will you”?
2,000 years ago a young woman named Mary said ‘yes’ to that question, and she began the greatest time of waiting that the world has ever seen.
Paul is praying over the Church in Thessalonica that they too will say ‘yes’ to God’s never ending pursuit. These ancient people lived in fear of persecution, suffering greatly while they learned the Christian faith and grew in their belief.
Yet, in the midst of their difficulty, God continued to reach out to them, calling “will you”? And they were not left to this faith growing on their own; the Lord sent Paul and Timothy to walk alongside them, to encourage and teach them.
The Thessolonians were prayed over and given opportunity for Christ to be glorified in and through them
Today and every day, God asks us: “will you?”
In the midst of our afflictions, joys, struggles and celebrations.
Whatever your answer is - whatever this season may hold for you - may the name of our Lord Jesus be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.