We ought always to give thanks to God for you.
2 Thessalonians 1:3
Thank you! And praise God for you, church. Regardless of the name under which you gather to minister and worship as the church, thank you!
These present moments offer challenges to the workplace and the marketplace, to the school campus and the home, and most assuredly to the church. But nonetheless, there stands the church: assembled and striving for fellowship. Although tired from interruptions, the church remains inspired by new opportunities as the people of God lift a banner of worship and faithfulness to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So church, thank you. Thank you for your faithfulness
Throughout the New Testament, we are privileged to engage with some endearing expressions of greetings represented in actual correspondences known as the epistles. Many of these greetings offer thanks to the church, as exemplified in the second letter to the Thessalonian church. Take a moment to engage with the first four verses of this letter and celebrate the faithfulness of the church (2 Thessalonians 1:1-4).
First (v. 1-2), Paul offered the usual endeared greeting that identified the church: “To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” In this greeting, Paul describes the church as “in” God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The church can only be identified properly if we are truly “in” Christ. We cannot function nor can we successfully minister if we are only in ourselves (our respective heritage), or if we are only in our community (our location). We must be in Christ and in God, which means that His love and His purpose ultimately define the identity of the church. And, as Paul stated to the original church, so today this same reality is proclaimed: Church, you are “in Christ” and “in God”, and this defines the sum total of your existence in this world and in this present moment. So, thank you for who you are as the people of God. Thank you that beyond your identity of location or your identity of a particular church heritage, you truly embody the love and purposes of Jesus. Thank you. And, may you daily experience grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Second (v. 3), Paul commended the church for their faith and love. Their faith was obviously growing with significance, and their love for one another was far reaching and all-inclusive. This represents such a powerful and genuine demonstration of the true church. “Your faith has enlarged,” indicates significant growth in devotion to Christ (discipleship, prayer, obedience to missional callings, etc.), as well as significant growth in duties of the church (upholding the Gospel, teaching the Scriptures, honoring the ordinances, caring for the sick, feeding the poor, etc.). “The love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater.” If we are to be identified by our faith in Christ, then we are certainly to be known by our love, especially among the saints. Therefore, to be “in Christ” is to live our lives by faith and love. Faith represents the inward reality of transformation – the inner proof that God is truly at work in us. And, love is the outward manifestation of an inner and growing faith. So church, thank you. Thank you for seeking to grow in your faith during these uncertain moments. And, thank you for your contagious love that pours out to one another, and to the world. Thank you for your faith and love.
Third (v. 4), Paul recognized that the character of Christlikeness among God’s people was not squelched by persecution, nor diminished by hardships that came upon the church. In fact, it seems that such troubles served only to ignite a deeper commitment to Jesus. They persevered in the midst of afflictions and restrictions. So, church, thank you for allowing these present days of challenges to strengthen your faith rather than causing you to fall to bitterness and apathy. Church, thank you for your perseverance in the midst of restrictions.
Today, as you face yet another day in this present journey, pause and focus on this one truth. The Church, God’s testimony of faithfulness and love expressed perfectly in Christ Jesus and embodied in His children, is alive and well in this hurting world. And, for the first time in many, many decades of the church’s existence in the world, we are witnessing a global surge of faith. Church, you represent the love of God. You represent Jesus. There is no other entity on the globe that accomplishes this other than you. So, thank you church that you are alive and well. I realize some among you continue to struggle, some have pushed back in silence, and some are simply waiting until all things are back to normal. Turn around, reach back, and love on them, and help them. For, as a whole, you have risen to the occasion, and you are very sensitive to the fact that this present moment is not about what we have lost, but rather about the opportunities for the Gospel that awaits us each day. There are amazing opportunities to express the love of Christ and His kingdom in new and exciting ways to those in our homes, in our neighborhoods, those connected with us through social media, and those who are watching us from a distance. So church, thank you for being the church. Be encouraged!
Blessings.
READ
Read 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12 and be encouraged as the church.
