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2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 (verse 5)
The “persecutions and tribulations that you endure” (2 Thessalonians 1:4, NKJV) are the evidence that is the manifestation of being counted worthy of the kingdom of God (2 Thessalonians 1:5). Jesus suffered, and likewise His followers will suffer also. Jesus declared in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” In John 15:20 Jesus declared, “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”
This is a promise that being persecuted for Christ’s sake is also a declaration of obedience to Him which will receive the ultimate reward of being counted worthy of the kingdom of God.
Suffering for Christ Jesus is not something that we put our faith in Him to receive, but it is something that must be acknowledged in being a Christian. Some people shy away from pursuing a life in Christ Jesus for this reason, but the truth is that we all suffer for many things of which there is no reward for the suffering, nor the greatest reward of all – eternal life for the obedience we show in suffering for Christ Jesus who came to save us from the suffering of this world. We all suffer; wouldn’t you rather suffer for a reason that saves your soul and fills you with joy for being faithful? Put your trust in Jesus today and you too will receive the eternal reward of life – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
The Apostle Peter declared, “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:10). Please let it be so LORD. In Jesus name I pray, amen.