2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Main Thought: As in many of his epistles, the apostle in this second letter to the Thessalonian church opens by praying for them. By this, he indicates that he was not simply a man of preaching and teaching doctrine, but a man of prayer, deeply concerned for the spiritual growth and well-being of those he knew and loved. He indicates that this concern is “for you always,” letting them know that they were never out of his mind and heart. What did he indicate he was praying for? First, so God would count or make them worthy of the calling of Christ. We need to be reminded that we were called by God, through the effectual working of the Holy Spirit and the Gospel, out of our sin and darkness into salvation and standing as the sons of God. As such, God has empowered us to live a life that honors Christ and bears spiritual fruit that gives evidence of the work of salvation in us. Secondly, he is asking for them that every holy and righteous resolve or desire that we have, every work of faith that we are motivated to perform, would be enabled and strengthened with power. This power is the same power that is spoken of in Romans 1:16 where Paul writes of the Gospel “being the power of God to salvation.” Our faith begins with the power of God, and the walk of faith and the works of faith continue to be empowered by God himself. We are humbled to remember that whatever we accomplish for Christ in this life is by His power. Then Paul reveals the purpose of this prayer: “That the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him.” As the apostle Paul recognized, all of us are children of God by His grace and that all we are is because of the grace of God. The purpose of our lives as His children, from the very beginning of our salvation, until we are called home to Him, is that He would be glorified in us. What a wonderful reminder of the love Paul had for those he ministered to, and a reminder to us that our purpose with every breath we take is to glorify our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.