Suffering and Persecution

2 Thess. 1:11

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by His power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Chapter 1 deals with some heavy issues. The Thessalonians were undergoing heavy persecution, yet through the midst of it their faith was growing as was their love for one another. Somehow this seems to be true. When times are tough, we are crying out to God so much more and we are reaching out to fellow believers for comfort and prayer. However it goes on to say that the suffering they were enduring was evidence of God's righteous judgment. [sounds like it might be difficult to understand] Since it is through the fire that they were clinging to God and that He was flooding their life with grace could this cycle be complete. [This seems to be a backhanded blessing since persecution was so intense.] In addition their persecution demonstrated that God had made them worthy of the kingdom of God. God is the one who makes someone worthy. In Eph. 4 Paul urged the Ephesians to walk worthy of the calling to which they had been called with all humility and gentleness, with patience bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit. No doubt this walking worthy must also be given by God. 

Paul wanted to encourage the Thessalonians by telling them that when Jesus would return and He would be revealed with His angels, the heavy would come down on all those who do not believe in the gospel of Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from His glory. It is on this day that He will be glorified in His saints and will be a wonder to all who believe. It is to this end that Paul and his team prayed for them, that God would make them worthy for this day. [in the future, the blessed hope] Their suffering now would be a sign that God was working in them, sanctifying them, and preparing them to be ready for the day of His return. Their lives would have suffering but they would also have the power  to do good works of faith. In all of this Jesus is glorified in them and He in them. Just as He is in me. And it is all according to the grace of God and Jesus.

Father,

I see that these people were made worthy through suffering. Keep me strong to endure all that you have laid our for me. Make me worthy of Your call so that I may fulfill every good work of faith. 

In Jesus name,

Amen