Today you should read: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
In the last letter that Paul wrote to the church of Thessalonica we read how he was constantly encouraging them amongst persecution. The second letter Paul writes to the church starts off with the same theme (v. 5-12), because the persecution has been magnified and the church was starting to become discouraged. The fall and a sinful, broken world in light of the fall can do that. Sometimes it can be easy to look at the world around you, especially amidst heavy affliction from Satan and start to think that he’s winning. Two truths from this passage can be a comfort in such times.
1. God is just and will afflict those who afflict us.
God is righteous for judging those who persecute us and repaying those who afflict us. Recently I felt some of this myself hearing about the kidnapping of 276 girls in Nigeria. I prayed and said I want blood for those girls. I believe that’s biblical. This blood could go two ways. Either the saving blood of Jesus that was sacrificed in the atonement and that is applied toward kidnappers who repent and believe. Or blood that is described in this passage where God doesn’t allow sin to go unpunished. Those parents of those girls deserve blood, and God is just and even more just in the Christian’s persecution.
2. God will relieve you.
It may be amidst your persecution or it may be when He comes back. However Jesus and only Jesus can promise and actually fulfill a rescue plan because He loves you too much to leave you in pain. That’s the purpose of the resurrection. He has proven that He has defeated sin, Satan and death.So if one is persecuted to the point of martyrdom like Thessalonica and many other Christians around the world face, we find comfort in the great truth that He will relieve and reward us.
Posted: Erik Koliser
JumpstartCPC.com 