DON'T LOST HOPE!
READ 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4
This passage is introductory to what Paul is sharing as a follow-up to his earlier letter of 1 Thessalonians. He will deal will problems that have presented themselves as prominent since the writing of his first letter.
Verse one speaks about our position in God. When you receive Christ as your Saviour, you are IN God. That is your spiritual position, where you are located spiritually.
Verse two speaks about grace and peace. He says, “FROM God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” That tells us about the source of our progress in the Lord. God gives us His grace, and God gives us His peace.
In verse three we learn of Paul’s great thanksgiving. As he often does, he reminds them how thankful he is to God for them. He also expresses how thankful he is for the evident progress they are making in their lives.
In verse four he says, “…we glory in you in the churches of God.” When he thinks of what God is doing in their lives, he gives thanksgiving to God.
Let us now consider three questions for those of us who are currently living on this planet. We are closer than ever before to the end-time events the Bible speaks about.
1. IS YOUR FAITH GROWING? – vs. 3a.
“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith growth exceedingly…”
It is a challenge for your faith to grow in difficult circumstances. And yet, that is exactly what was taking place in the lives of the people of Thessalonica. Our faith is challenged when things are difficult. We all know that challenging times call for growing faith. Is your faith growing?
2. IS YOUR LOVE OVERFLOWING – vs. 3b.
“…and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.”
The Nile River overflows its banks in certain seasons of the year. It is the overflowing, the flooding, that irrigates the agricultural land around that Nile River in Egypt. It is the overflow that causes the crops to grow. It's the same picture here in this verse. It's the picture of love like a magnificent river just overflowing its banks.
Paul says I'm so proud of you, I thank God for you, I brag on you and the other churches because your love is overflowing. Is your love overflowing as we approach the end times?
One of the tendencies that all of us have, when hard times, difficulties and trials come, is to pull in and become very inward. It's the worst possible thing you can do. If you are not careful, you can become withdrawn and occupied with yourself and your own problems to the exclusion of those around you.
What you need to do when you are going through a hard time is to begin to look for opportunities to express love to other people. Is your love overflowing?
3. IS YOUR HOPE PERSEVERING? – vs. 4.
“So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure.”
Paul was boasting on behalf of the believers in Thessalonica because of their perseverance, but it wasn’t easy. What is hope? In the Bible, hope is not like we use it today. Someone may ask you, “Are you going to pass that test tomorrow?” You reply, “I hope so.” Well, there is a lot of doubt in that statement.
In the New Testament, hope is the certainty that what is hoped for will come to pass. That sounds like the definition of faith. In 1 Timothy 1:1 we are told that Jesus is our hope. He is our certainty.
Let me encourage you today. We are looking forward to the blessed hope, not the Great Tribulation. Titus 2:13 says, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Our hope should persevere and endure.
God certainly gives us hope as we approach the end of this age.
Your Friend and HIS,
Pastor Abbott
MEDITATIONS
1. Explain how your faith is growing. And if it isn’t what needs to change in you?
2. Can you honestly examine your life and say that your love is overflowing? Explain why or why not.
3. Are you more self-focused or others-focused? Explain your answer.
4. How are you doing in the hope department? Is your hope persevering or is it waning? What do you need to do to keep your hope intact?