Irvin Wasswa- Tylertown Campus Pastor LHBC
2 Thessalonians 1:3-4
3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers,[a] as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
The Christians who lived in the city of Thessalonica around 50 A.D. were THRIVING in their faith. In spite of the intense persecution they were facing for following Jesus, they continued to run the race of faith well. As a matter of fact because of how much they were growing, the apostle Paul boasted about them to other churches he was affiliated with around the world. The faith of the Thessalonian church glorified God and encouraged the other saints around the world. We see here that their lives were what I like to call “boastable”. Could the same be said of us?
Now when Paul speaks to the Thessalonian Church’s lives being “boastable”, what does that entail? I think it is easy to just simply assume the Thessalonians were perfect and had it all together as Christians. That could not be further from the truth. As a matter of fact, Paul addressed them with his concerns/misconceptions pertaining to Christ’s second coming later in the book. They were not perfect, but they were maturing in their faith. They had not arrived in their faith but they were growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Their example was a motivating factor in Paul sharing their story as an encouragement to the world.
Here in vs. 3-4 Paul highlights what makes a life in Christ boastable to other believers for His namesake and for the encouragement of those said believers. He first mentions how their faith is boastable because of their love for one another. The Thessalonian church loved one another. They cared for each other and looked out for one another in light of the attack on the church. Listen friend, do you love your fellow brother/sister in the Lord? Do you care and cherish all the saints of the Lord at Living Hope or just the ones who look, dress, act, vote, and live like you? A mark of a “boastable” Christian life is one who loves all the saints, not looks down on them.
Secondly, Paul highlights a key component in a Boastable faith is one that is steadfast. See the Thessalonian Christians chose not to allow for the current circumstances around them to dictate how they followed the Lord. They were steadfast in their faith. Listen friends, may we too choose to be all in for Jesus in every season of life. Though storms may come, though persecution may come, we choose not to let our faith in the Lord be shaken, but rather choose to be steadfast in our faith.
By the way we live our life both publicly and privately, can it be said of us that our faith is “boastable”? Is the way we choose to live for Jesus and love others an example worth following? My hope and prayer today is that we would choose to be like the Thessalonian church and have a life that is “boastable” for God’s glory and the encouragement of His saints; both today and everyday moving forward.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for saving me! I thank you that my faith is secure in You and that in You there is hope forever more. Grow me in the grace and knowledge of You today. Help me to have steadfast faith in light of all that may go on around me today. Grow my love for my fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord as well. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
MEMORY VERSE FOR THE WEEK:
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.