November 29, 2022

Hello Advent Family,

I remember hearing a Pastor ask his congregation many years ago if they were on trial for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict them.  Paul starts his second letter to the Thessalonians church by indicating that concept exactly.  He is grateful for them and particularly for the evidence of their faith.  Let’s look at his words together today.

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. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. 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.

It seems that the key item of evidence for Paul is the increase of their faith which is evidenced by their love for one another.  It is like the words of the old hymn – They shall know we are Christians by our love by our love.  Our love for each other, our love for those that are different than us, our love for our friends and particularly our enemies.  That’s what should set the followers of Jesus apart.  The way we treat the people that we don’t particularly like.  The Thessalonians were demonstrating love for others even as they were being persecuted by them.  That’s the kind of love that Jesus modeled for us and the kind of love we are called to.  May we all be a people who are found “guilty” of love.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave


^