Daily Bread 2010 - 2 Thessalonians 1
Thanksgiving and Prayer
3We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 4Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
As we begin Paul’s 2nd letter to the Thessalonians, we see one thing that hasn’t changed is the amount of persecution this young church is facing. But apparently they are responding well, as Paul states that their faith is growing more and more, and the love they have for each other is increasing as well.
Although we would never wish suffering on ourselves or anyone else we care about, history has proved that when the church is under persecution if often acts as a refining fire. Often this results in a stronger and more focused church. In the extreme cases where believers have been “martyred” for their faith (given their life), it has also served to increase the resolve of the church of Christ. 2nd century theologian Tertullian makes this comment which has been preserved throughout history, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
Of course, one has to be careful with all the extremist religious activity we see around the world with this kind of notion. But the bottom line is when Christians are persecuted for their faith, they are forced to rely on what they believe (or not) and grow closer to the sufferings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
There are many types of trials and persecutions for those who desire to live a life of faith. This includes staying in faith when tragedy happens and we have no quick and easy answer as to why loved ones are taken at a young age. There is a kind of internal persecution which we must endure when we wonder why bad things happen to good people, and why good things happen to bad people.
Of course we must clarify who is truly good (no one), and who is truly bad, but in the end we still all must persevere in faith when easy answers as to why things happen are lacking. One thing is for sure, we see an increase in love when things like this happen in the faith community. As we care for those who are suffer, we fulfill the law of Christ to bear one another’s burdens, and we incarnate Jesus’ own steadfast love.
Who do you know that you can reach out to with the love of Christ who is going through a persecution or trial? Give them a call today and let them know you are thinking about them and they are not alone.
Jesus, we don’t always understand all of the things that happen to us, but we know you will not leave us or forsake us as we undergo various kinds of trials. Strengthen our faith and love for each other, so that on the day of judgment we will be able to stand before by your grace. Amen.
3We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 4Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
As we begin Paul’s 2nd letter to the Thessalonians, we see one thing that hasn’t changed is the amount of persecution this young church is facing. But apparently they are responding well, as Paul states that their faith is growing more and more, and the love they have for each other is increasing as well.
Although we would never wish suffering on ourselves or anyone else we care about, history has proved that when the church is under persecution if often acts as a refining fire. Often this results in a stronger and more focused church. In the extreme cases where believers have been “martyred” for their faith (given their life), it has also served to increase the resolve of the church of Christ. 2nd century theologian Tertullian makes this comment which has been preserved throughout history, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.”
Of course, one has to be careful with all the extremist religious activity we see around the world with this kind of notion. But the bottom line is when Christians are persecuted for their faith, they are forced to rely on what they believe (or not) and grow closer to the sufferings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
There are many types of trials and persecutions for those who desire to live a life of faith. This includes staying in faith when tragedy happens and we have no quick and easy answer as to why loved ones are taken at a young age. There is a kind of internal persecution which we must endure when we wonder why bad things happen to good people, and why good things happen to bad people.
Of course we must clarify who is truly good (no one), and who is truly bad, but in the end we still all must persevere in faith when easy answers as to why things happen are lacking. One thing is for sure, we see an increase in love when things like this happen in the faith community. As we care for those who are suffer, we fulfill the law of Christ to bear one another’s burdens, and we incarnate Jesus’ own steadfast love.
Who do you know that you can reach out to with the love of Christ who is going through a persecution or trial? Give them a call today and let them know you are thinking about them and they are not alone.
Jesus, we don’t always understand all of the things that happen to us, but we know you will not leave us or forsake us as we undergo various kinds of trials. Strengthen our faith and love for each other, so that on the day of judgment we will be able to stand before by your grace. Amen.
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