Persecution
2 THESSALONIANS 1: 1-12
(October 13)
Paul felt the need to write this second letter to the people of the church of Thessalonica less than a year after he wrote the first letter to them. He heard how they had responded to his first letter to them. He was pleased that they continued to grow in faith.
But there was the problem of the false teachings that were spreading quickly about Christ returning. People were quitting their jobs and waiting for the world to end. Paul wrote this second letter to correct any false teachings they may have heard about when Christ would return.
If you remember, when Paul visited Thessalonica, he had to leave quickly because he was being persecuted. The Jews and Gentiles were continuing to persecute those who had responded to Paul's message.
Because he had told them in the first letter that the return of Christ would bring them deliverance from persecution, and would cast judgement on those who persecuted them, they were in hopes of Christ returning soon to rescue them from what they were going through.
In this second letter, Paul explains that they, as believers, should learn how to persevere from their suffering through their faith in Christ. This should be the action they take while waiting for Christ's return.
He tells them of how the Lord will come, what will happen, who will receive judgement, who will receive freedom and eternal life with Christ. He offers them his prayers that they will continue to have the power to do all their faith calls them to do to honor the Lord.
Many people around our world today are facing serious persecution. They willingly walk into situations where they know they will have others come against them. They walk in with perseverance and faith in Christ.
They, however, are not the only ones who face persecution. It is everywhere, on every different level. It is thrown in our faces through social media, through walking the streets of a city, or even by reading a newspaper.
We ALL must show perseverance and we ALL must strengthen our faith if we are to stand strong until the return of Christ. Paul's words of so long ago apply to strongly to our lives today.
Persecution may be the problem, but life with Christ is the prize.