Good morning! Have you ever noticed that  sometimes people just need a little encouragement in life?

Have you ever struggled to do the right thing and each time you tried it seemed like there was some type of opposition against you? Or have you been on the right track and you are just a little weary and some encouragement is exactly what you need?

Well, today we will begin our reading in 2 Thessalonians. 2 Thessalonians is the second recorded letter that Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica. Join me as we read verses one through six.

Bible verse: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-6 NLT

“ ¹ This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy.

We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

² May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

³ Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. ⁴ We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. ⁵ And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. ⁶ In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.”

Reflection

Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians church in 1 Thessalonians. The letter was encouraging and it also provided guidance to the Thessalonians on areas within their faith that needed to grow. In this second letter, Apostle Paul notes that he is accompanied by two others (Silas and Timothy). Apostle Paul writes early on in the letter about how pleased he was to learn of the faith the Thessalonians had and how it was flourishing. Apostle Paul also shared his joy in hearing about their love for one another. Not only that, but Paul shared that the believers had become a model for other churches. That even in the throws of persecution – the Thessalonian church continued to prevail.

There are a few takeaways from today’s verses that we as believers can strive for as Christ continues to transform us.  Through Christ we can:

• allow our faith to flourish.

• let our love for one another continue to grow.

• trust God when persecution and hardships come:

• God will use them to show His justice; and

• make us worthy of the kingdom we suffer for when we are living and following Christ.

Sisters and brothers, stay encouraged. Your faith is growing daily and your love for others is beginning to take deeper roots. Keep pressing forward in the Lord. In spite of the things going on in your life God is with you. His justice and promises never fail.

Keep pressing forward.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for another glorious day. Thank you for another opportunity to be used by you to share your love and truth with anyone we may encounter. Father God, thank you for sending your son Jesus as a living sacrifice to save us from our sins. Thank you for salvation, redemption and your endless mercies toward us. Lord, forgive us for the times when we became weary, heavy burden and angry, and did not follow your will for our lives. Lord, refreshen our hearts and our minds as we draw closer to you. Help us to see the things and people who matter to you through your lens. Lord, help us to encourage and comfort others. Lord, we pray for those who are grieving. Lord, strengthen them and give them peace. Comfort their hearts and touch them. Lord, care for those who are without parents and bring godly Christians into their lives who will encourage them and help them mature as adults. Lord, our world needs you – heal it and heal us. Lord, help all the people and families who have been devastated by Hurricane Beryl. Lord, help those in need of safe shelters, food, work, medication, and essentials. Lord, help those Caribbean islands quickly rebuild, help the other areas countries impacted by the hurricane, and be with those who have had their flights canceled due to the storm.

Lord, help missing children, teens, and adults be found and freed. Lord, get them the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual support that they need.  Lord, help us to draw nearer to you. Lord, you have already equipped us with what we need to follow you. Lord, strengthen our faith, and make us bold enough to follow your guidance without fear. Speak to us, Lord, and help our hearts and minds to be obedient to your voice, and surrender our lives to you. In Jesus name, amen.

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Photography by: Mary White

Video by: Elisa White

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