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2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 (verse 4)
2 Thessalonians 1:4 is the resulting praise of 2 Thessalonians 1:3. The Apostle Paul and his ministry team celebrates the Christians at Thessalonica to the other churches because of their “patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,” (2 Thessalonians 1:4, NKJV).
This is an example of the praise received for being a Christian.
It is important to note that the praise Paul is giving to the Christians at Thessalonica is not simply for their faith and in God and our Savior Jesus Christ, but that their faith and patience continues to abound through the trials and tribulations that they face. They did not give up when the going got tough. They continued to strive to grow in their relationships with God through His indwelling them with His Holy Spirit given them at their salvation in Christ Jesus. Jesus promised in John 14:15-18, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
The joy in our hearts comes from the indwelling of God through His Holy Spirit living within us; that’s why non-Christians cannot experience the joy of Christ Jesus, because they have not invited Him to live within them which is a direct result of being saved. To know the most memorized verse in the Bible does us no good if we do not live it in our own lives; Jesus offers to us all in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” He then explains it in the next verse, John 3:17, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Ask Jesus into your heart today and gain His joy, even through trials and tribulations.
Dear LORD,
We all love to be praised, but the praise that You give us for being faithful to You and for following Your commands is a far greater praise than anyone on earth could ever give us. It is through the indwelling of Your Holy Spirit in our lives through salvation in Christ Jesus that allows us to feel and experience Your great love and joy in our hearts. Call us to You LORD; save us LORD; fill us with joy that only You can give. In Jesus name I pray, amen.