Having told
them about the eventual revelation of the man of lawlessness, Paul now turned
to encourage the Thessalonians. He began by offering thanksgiving to God for
them. He felt obligated to thank God for the Thessalonians because they were God’s
choice. God did not save them because the people chose Him, but the reverse. It
was God Who had first set His affection on them.
Paul wanted
them to know that saving them was God’s initiative. It was His intention for
them to ultimately possess the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the process
to that glory was through sanctification by the Spirit and their belief in the
truth. With that, Paul called on them to remain steadfast and not to be shaken.
He exhorted them to hold fast to what they were taught, either via oral
tradition or through the letter that the apostle had sent to them.
From
thanksgiving, the apostle now turned to pray for the Thessalonians. It is
interesting to note that in this prayer, he mentioned the Lord Jesus Christ
before God the Father. In doing so, Paul probably saw equality and unity
between the Lord Jesus and God the Father. Here the believing Thessalonians not
only received divine love but were also the recipients of eternal comfort and
good hope. All these were wished upon them so that they would be enabled to
face their present afflictions with the hope of a future comfort. And it was
through grace that all gifts came upon them.
Paul then
proceeded to make two specific requests for the Thessalonians. He prayed first
that they would be comforted and strengthened or encouraged in their hearts.
Then he asked that they would be rooted and made firm in both good works and
the Word.
God has also
set His affection upon us and has initiated the saving process in our lives as
well. Let’s take heart and be encouraged, and know that He who has begun His work
in us will complete it. Reciprocally, we must set our heart and affection on Him
and be determined to serve Him to the very end.
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