Good Morning Friends,
“Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the
Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to
you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We ought always to thank God
for you, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the
love every one of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God’s
churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and
trials you are enduring.” (2 Thessalonians 1:1-4)
Paul began his second Thessalonian letter in
the same way in which he began his first: by thanking God for them. He looked
at the characteristics of the Thessalonian church that deserved special praise
and he pointed to their faith and their love (in the first letter he also
mentions their hope).
They were known as a church of faith. Faith
that kept growing as they matured and walked with the Lord. Faith is important
to God. In fact, without faith no one can please God at all. (Hebrews 11:6) What
is true in the lives of individuals is also true for whole churches. To please God,
churches must have faith. Faith that trusts God even in the midst of trials. Faith
that is willing to step forward even when the way is not clearly laid out,
trusting that when God will reveal each step as it is needed.
They were known as a church that loved each
other. Again, it wasn’t love that stayed at the same level. It was love that
kept increasing as they got to know God better and got to know each other
better. Love for others is important to God, too. In fact, it is the very
characteristic that Jesus said would be the mark by which His followers would
be known. (John 13:35) Love that is willing to keep loving even when someone
isn’t very loveable. Love that is willing to keep loving even when that love
requires great sacrifice.
Faith and love -- I can’t think of any two
characteristics that I’d rather have my church known for!
His, by Grace, Steve
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