Terry Storch

Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

2 Thessalonians 1 - Why God?

 

2 Thessalonians 1 - Why God?

Opening 2 Thessalonians this morning, the sequel to 1 Thessalonians. From some research, I found that this letter was written quickly after the first letter, maybe just a few months. Many theologians believe Paul was trying to correct some misunderstandings. The NIV introduction tells us Paul was trying to correct a false report that he had said the day of the Lord had already come. The Thessalonians concern seems to have been not that the day had come and gone, and they had missed it, but that it was now present. 

This is just so interesting to me, so many similarities today and centuries ago. Paul was a chief reminding officer. His message was delivered, and nearly immediately, that message was being twisted, turned, and taken out of context or just distorted. It sounds like today, hard to sort through all the messaging and find the truth. 

The opening few verses give us some real truth, and they are so relevant to our current situation and are relevant to our lives today, let's dig in. I am going to break down and highlight each verse to make this easy to digest. 

“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.” - ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Therefore, among God’s churches, we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” - ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So I will quickly stop here and just recap and hit a few things. Paul, Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy send grace and peace in the name of Jesus Christ and highlight how much they thank God for the Thessalonians. They highlight how much their faith is growing, how much they are loving others in the midst of great persecution and trials. During persecution and trials is a critical part of this opening! This is precisely what Paul was boasting to others about how they are persevering in the middle of all this turmoil. Let’s continue.

“All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.” - ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Check out a few other versions of this passage:

“All of this proves that God’s judgment is always perfect and is intended to make you worthy of inheriting the kingdom of God, which is why you are going through these troubles.” - ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.”- ‭‭2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“All this trouble is a clear sign that God has decided to make you fit for the kingdom. You’re suffering now, but justice is on the way.”‭‭ - 2 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:5 ‭MSG‬‬

So many times we ask the big question why? Why all the pain, why all the suffering, why must we walk through this? Right now, I find myself asking that many times around COVID-19, and I have asked this countless times in my life - “Why God?” 

All these different versions were really great for me to read this morning, gathering different words and application to my life, I hope they help you. I really liked this commentary I understand this morning about this opening. 

We usually think that God is absent when we suffer, and that our suffering calls God’s righteous judgment into question. Paul took the exact opposite position and insisted that the Thessalonians’ suffering was evidence of the righteous judgment of God. Where suffering is coupled with righteous endurance, God’s work is done. The fires of persecution and tribulation were like the purifying fires of a refiner, burning away the dross from the gold, bringing forth a pure, precious metal.

Wow, a powerful thought and not what comes to my mind naturally. I often desire the pain and suffering to go away. I often pray for others for the pain, trials and suffering to go away...but we do not read in Paul's words those thoughts. We read the opposite, not asking for more, but reminding them God’s work is done when suffering is coupled with righteous endurance. That’s a critical takeaway. 

Is will stop here, as I know I need to take this in and allow this to set in. God is just! There is a greater “Why” than we typically see at first glance.

Lord, may we remember in the middle of all our situations and circumstances, when suffering is coupled with righteous endurance, your work is done. Amen

other writing
John 20 - The Gospel

John 20 - The Gospel

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like.

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

The day of Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled 28 Old Testament prophecies. Scripture was fulfilled! Beyond that, trying to wrap my mind around what happened this day, on the cross, and fully grabbing the magnitude of the cross is mind-boggling.

Sure, we can dumb this down or simplify it to a place where I just don’t believe it is anywhere near accurate. We can get into penal substitution and argue over was God full of love or was God full of wrath and hate that he killed his son. To me, John 3:16 is pretty clear on the love part.

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

In John 18, we come to the great betrayal. Judas came with the soldiers, officials, and chief priest and Pharisees. We know the scene. But this morning, I saw something I don’t remember reading and surly don’t remember learning about.

“So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭18:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 is Jesus looking heavenward and praying to God the Father. So much beauty and mystery in this prayer. One thing that jumps out to me is that Jesus, fully God, and fully man prayed. Jesus is God fully. Why did he need to pray, He was One with the Father, He was God...and yet he prayed. This is so powerful;

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

By the end of John 16, Jesus had done countless miracles, preached some amazing sermons, transformed so many lives, and developed a close and personal relationship with his disciples. So, when reading these verses, I am just utterly confused on so many levels.

“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

Jesus’ time on earth is quickly coming to a close, and he finishes up his last sermon or teaching to his disciples as they walk to Gethsemane. This final teaching was a heavy one that no doubt left his disciples with a heavy heart. Jesus said it this way;

“...None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus goes on to say;

John 15 - Constant Growth

John 15 - Constant Growth

We were built for growth, constant growth. From birth, all the way until our death, we were designed by God for constant growth. The problem is, we often can find ourselves stuck in a belief, a phase, or a part of life where we stop growing.

One of the most brilliant investors embodies this understanding. Charlie Munger, at 96 years old, is still learning and growing as a person. I love this quote:

“Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.”
- Charlie Munger

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 opens with Jesus, saying, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. And the chapter closed down with Jesus saying Don’t be troubled or afraid.

A message that needs to resonate with our spirit and our inner self. This was such a good reminder, reading through John 14 over and over. This passage lifted off the screen.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

The world today seems so volatile and chaotic. Everywhere you look, whatever we read and see on TV just seems to be troubling. Last night, I noticed my lovely wife Tweeted this;

“I can’t be the only one who watches the news and is simply embarrassed right now, right? (Dear Jesus, we tap out. Come on back.)”

I find this first humorous, but then I also find it sad. It’s true, watching the news as a Christ-follower is pretty embarrassing. In John 14, we see Jesus…

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

Summarizing John, chapter 13, looks like this. The Lords Supper takes place. Jesus washes the disciple's feet. Jesus calls out Judas, and Satan enters him. Night comes, Judas leaves, and Jesus says he must go, and where I am going, you can not come. To cap it all off, Jesus also calls out Simon Peter and tells him that he will deny and completely disown Jesus three times. Whoa, a really full chapter, and historical day.

Nestled in the wrap up of the day is the parting message Jesus leaves his disciples, a message Jesus is sharing with us right now.

 
thoughtsTerry Storch