2 Thess 1

Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1

Observation: This first chapter is the beginning of another letter to the church at Thessalonica. Click here for a map showing Thessalonica. The letter starts out as encouragement for this church. Apparently things are going pretty well there on one level, but the letter implies there some persecution going on too. Paul reminds these people that God is just and will repay those giving them trouble. The punishment is just, but harsh too. It's a good reminder to us that we know people that don't yet know Jesus, and that they will be punished with everlasting destruction.

Wow.

Maybe those words were meant to encourage these people that were being persecuted, and it probably did for a little bit. But if those words really sunk in, I doubt it was long before these Christians were more concerned for the souls of these persecutors then they were about revenge. Maybe that was the actual goal of these words too. Of course I'm thinking from Paul's perspective. I'm sure God wants us to take everything away from these words that are available. When you're a new Christian, the vengeance angle is probably what you'd take away from this first. When you're a more mature Christian, these words start to give way to concern for those who persecute, depending on our relationship with that person. And there's probably more that I don't see yet because I'm only where I am. Of course the Holy Spirit can reveal anything He likes to me at any time.

Application: I need to remember that God knows what's going on in my life all the time. He knows when I am persecuted (not often enough). It will be up to Him to deal with those who persecute Christians. For those that simply don't want to acknowledge Christ, God will deal with them too, but in the mean time, it is up to us to let our friends know what Jesus has done for us.

This is hard stuff. It's hard to imagine that not knowing Jesus is just cause for the harshest punishment-eternity without Him. I need boldness to speak this truth to my friends. It's hard for lots of people because they don't like to be in that uncomfortable spot, and I'm no exception. I pray though that this truth will sink in to my soul as well so I can be of some use to my Lord. Maybe this blog is a good step in the right direction.