Month: June 2025

2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

As believers, our living should show others that we trust God to carry us through every situation. In v.3 Paul and his coworkers, Silas and Timothy, told the Thessalonian believers they were duty-bound to thank God always for them, as it is right. There are two reasons stated in v.3, expressing why they are always thankful for these Thessalonian believers. The first reason is that their faith has grown more and more; “But without faith it is impossible to please God…” (Heb.11:6a AMP). The second reason given to thank God always for them is that their love they have for one another is continually increasing. Jesus taught His disciples that they must love one another as He has loved them because their love for one another will show the world they are His disciples (John 13:34-35, paraphrased). 

Paul continued lifting up the Thessalonians, saying, “So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure” (v.4). There will be times on this journey when children of God experience hard times. Paul praised the church of Thessalonica among God’s churches because they had patience and faith to endure persecutions and tribulations. These attributes, like love, are necessary in the lives of believers; they are fruit of the Spirit and needed to help believers grow spiritually in order to go through trying times. 

Today, be an example of endurance in the midst of tough times. Put your trust in God; He may not come when you want Him, but He’s always on time. 

Lift your voice and give God glory!

Isaiah 1:6 NKJV

When God’s people alienate themselves from Him, their lives spiral downward spiritually and morally. Their affection is no longer on Him despite the blessings He bestowed on them. Their alienation puts them outside the ark of God’s safety, which leads to death. Paul said, “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23a).

In v.5 Isaiah stated that Judah’s “whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.” Here in v.6 the prophet’s message from God further highlighted Judah’s unhealthy physical and spiritual condition. He said, “From the sole of the foot even to the head, There is no soundness in it,But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up or soothed with ointment” (v.6).

Because Judah lacked trust in God and continued rebelling against Him, they were totally broken “from the sole of the foot even to the head.” The prophet said that there is no soundness in Judah; the entire nation is ladened with iniquity. They suffered injuries and putrefying sores – fresh or open wounds that cannot be healed or dried up. Rejection of God is rejection of His healing. A sore left untended will become infected, spread throughout the body, and cause serious medical issues. When we sin and ignore our actions, the hurts and wounds from life’s issues will infect and decay every aspect of our lives. Yet, because of God’s love and mercy, He patiently waits for our condition to bring us to repentance that we might return to His soothing ointment of healing. 

Today, lift your voice and shout, “Glory!”