August 19, 2024 RELIEF IS ON THE WAY
2 Thessalonians 1:4b-7 “for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and affiliations which you endure. This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in inflaming fire dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”
Let me say at the outset that I don’t know how many in the western world are being persecuted because of their faith in God. I do know that many face various trials and afflictions as Jesus said that we would have trials in this life. This passage reminds us that God executes righteous judgement; and it also reminds us that it is supremely important for us to persevere and remain faithful during afflictions and persecutions; by doing so, we will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God. Even though we live in the light of God’s kingdom as believers, we at the present live in the kingdom of darkness while on this earth which is in great contrast to the kingdom of God-thus the battle ground. We are at odds with the kingdom of this world; it’s a no-brainer that we will experience conflict. Again, we have the call to be faithful and to persevere in the trials we face as temporary residents of planet earth. The fact is that there is no way one can move from the kingdom of this world to the kingdom of God without some trials and conflicts that must be faithfully endured. Realizing this is the way it is, we can find comfort and encouragement in that God is well aware of our plight and He will not leave us in this place forever; relief is on the way. God will repay with affliction those who afflict us and He will give relief to us. Can you imagine what it will be like when the Lord suddenly appears with His mighty angles in flaming fire dealing out retribution to those who do not know Him and to those who do obey His gospel!!! We may think of angels as being nice guys with wings-but notice, they will be mighty angels that no one can resist! When I read this passage, there is something in me that says ‘Yes, I want to be ready when the Lord returns; I want to persevere and be faithful to His gospel.” We face trials now, but the trials and afflictions will cease one day. Even though we may not face sever persecutions at the present in the western world, we have many brothers and sisters in other parts of the world that are suffering greatly. Let us pray for them and in some way bear their burdens. The point for us that we must not miss is for us to persevere and remain faithful and to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
James 5:7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
Blessings, Buddy
2 Thessalonians 1:4b-7 “for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and affiliations which you endure. This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in inflaming fire dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”
Let me say at the outset that I don’t know how many in the western world are being persecuted because of their faith in God. I do know that many face various trials and afflictions as Jesus said that we would have trials in this life. This passage reminds us that God executes righteous judgement; and it also reminds us that it is supremely important for us to persevere and remain faithful during afflictions and persecutions; by doing so, we will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God. Even though we live in the light of God’s kingdom as believers, we at the present live in the kingdom of darkness while on this earth which is in great contrast to the kingdom of God-thus the battle ground. We are at odds with the kingdom of this world; it’s a no-brainer that we will experience conflict. Again, we have the call to be faithful and to persevere in the trials we face as temporary residents of planet earth. The fact is that there is no way one can move from the kingdom of this world to the kingdom of God without some trials and conflicts that must be faithfully endured. Realizing this is the way it is, we can find comfort and encouragement in that God is well aware of our plight and He will not leave us in this place forever; relief is on the way. God will repay with affliction those who afflict us and He will give relief to us. Can you imagine what it will be like when the Lord suddenly appears with His mighty angles in flaming fire dealing out retribution to those who do not know Him and to those who do obey His gospel!!! We may think of angels as being nice guys with wings-but notice, they will be mighty angels that no one can resist! When I read this passage, there is something in me that says ‘Yes, I want to be ready when the Lord returns; I want to persevere and be faithful to His gospel.” We face trials now, but the trials and afflictions will cease one day. Even though we may not face sever persecutions at the present in the western world, we have many brothers and sisters in other parts of the world that are suffering greatly. Let us pray for them and in some way bear their burdens. The point for us that we must not miss is for us to persevere and remain faithful and to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
James 5:7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
Blessings, Buddy
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