[:en]SCRIPTURE: 2 THESSALONIANS 1
“God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7)
The purpose of this letter was to correct the false teachings about the Second Coming of the Lord. He started his letter appreciating the joy he felt because of their faith in God. Despite of persecution and trials, the Thessalonian believers persevere and remain faithful to God. He assured them that God is jsut and will vindicate them in His time. He mentioned that suffering could strengthen our faith. And that one day, good or evil will be judged. Those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of Jesus will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power (vs. 8-9). The “everlasting destruction” is the lake of fire, the place of eternal separation from God.
Pauls prayer for the believers are: that God might fulfill His purpose and their lives and that the name of Christ may be glorified through them. Christians are to be “worthy” of His calling meaning we should fulfill God’s purpose in our life by doing what is good and right so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified.
LESSON:
Trials and trouble allow our faith to grow, our love to increase and our hope to abound. God will provide us the perseverance and endurance to triumph over Satan. Consider suffering a blessing and privilege to witness for Christ. Suffering today is a preparation for future glory.
God is preparing judgment for the wicked. He will recompense judgment by giving to the wicked in the same measure and kind that they have given to the Christians. In Bible history, Pharoah drowned the babies of Israelites, so God drowned the Egyptian army in the Red Sea. Judas betrayed Jesus to be hanged on the cross and Judas went out and hanged himself. Saul tried to kill David with a sword, and he was slain with a sword himself. Sinners will reap what they sow. Judgment will be meted out to those who are willfully ignorant and disobedient.
In these trying days, we see faithful Christian suffering while the godless unbelievers prosper. But we can rest in Him knowing that God is at work and He will vindicate and bring everyone to His own.[:]