What God Taught Me This Weekend...

Sometimes when I go to post something God has taught me, I wonder if the readers will think, “How remedial.” So many of you are so much more spiritually mature than me. But, then again, God compels me to write it down and share it.

So, here goes…

I was studying II Thessalonians 1 on Saturday. I learn so much from His Word when I am open to what He has to say to me.

II Thessalonians was written a few months after Paul had sent his first letter to the Thessalonian Christians. He had heard reports that there were more issues confronting them as new believers. Paul felt he must write to help and instruct them.

Even though the Thessalonian Christians were continuing to grow in their faith, they were receiving false teachings about Christ’s return.

The first thing I noticed was that the first two verses in chapter one are almost identical to the first two verses in I Thessalonians. I thought that was very interesting.

Paul wrote the letter, but Silas and Timothy joined in agreement with him.

Paul reminded the Thessalonians that God gives grace and peace. When I looked up those words—grace and peace—I found that one of the translations for grace was acceptable and a translation for peace was harmony.

As Christians, Jesus’ death and resurrection gives us acceptance into the family of God and we can live in harmony with Him. Isn’t that wonderful? I love that word grace. He accepts me just the way I am. Thank you, LORD. And He gives me peace—how else can I have that unless I am in a growing relationship with Him.

As I continued to study, Paul pointed out four things about the Thessalonians.

• Flourishing Faith
• Increasing Love
• Patience and Faith in Persecutions
• Endurance in Tribulation

The word, flourishing means to increase beyond the ordinary. Their faith was growing by leaps and bounds. And what is faith? It is not only believing IN God, it is believing God. This makes me question my own faith. Is my faith growing? Is it flourishing?

The agape love that only the Holy Spirit can manifest through Christians was evident in the lives of those Thessalonian Christians. Their love was SUPERABOUNDING! Can you imagine that? These people were looking for people to love. They were looking for ways to love. I want a love that is superabounding. Oh, Holy Spirit, let Your fruit become evident in my life.

Then Paul brings up two things that I don’t like—persecution and tribulation.
This is the definition from the dictionary:
Persecution: to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, esp. because of religion, race, or beliefs; harass persistently.

Tribulation: Great affliction, trial, or distress; suffering; an experience that tests one’s endurance, patients, or faith.

This is what God told me in that. Persecution comes from people. It is not something that just happens because—that’s life. It is something that one (or more) person(s) does to another person(s).

In this instance, the Thessalonian Christians were suffering from the hand of both the Jews and other Thessalonians. BUT, these Christians were thoroughly convinced in the truth of the Gospel. They believed it to be the power of God to salvation. No persecution could turn them from it. Having suffered for the truth, it was precious to them.

How am I when I am persecuted? What do I do? Do I fight back? Do I question whether following God is worth it?

These Thessalonian Christians stood firm! This is how I want to be.

So, if persecution comes from others, what about tribulation?

Tribulation comes in life. It can be brought on through life experiences, Satan, or God can allow things to come into my life to sand off the rough edges of my spiritual person. Sometimes I need to be sifted like wheat to get rid of those things in my life that hinder me in my spiritual walk. But, tribulation is HARD! It means pressure, oppression, squeezing.

Our lives can be like a marble or a grape. If I am a marble, when my life is pressured by people or events in my life, the marble can be crushed and broken into hundreds of pieces of sharp, hard objects. Nothing is usable. But, if I am a grape and things in my life crush me, then I am usable. What comes from the grape is a liquid that has a beautiful smell and refreshing juice. I want to be a grape—when I am crushed good things come out of it. I’m usable.

These Christians were growing spiritually. God was with them and they knew it. And yet, they were being persecuted and going through all kinds of tribulations.

What about us? We can’t seem to make it if we break a nail. And we certainly can’t tell our friends about Christ, what if they don’t like us anymore?

Paul used the Thessalonians as examples of how churches should live. I am the church…you are the church. I want to live like the Thessalonians. Even under insurmountable hardships, they were flourishing.

I love God’s Word. It not only shows me His love for me; but it tells me how to live in relationship with Him, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and the world.

Thank You, Father, for your word.