The second letter to the Thessalonians starts as most of Paul's letters, with words of greeting and thanksgiving. Toward the end of the chapter there is a simple statement which has commanded my attention. "With this in mind we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith."v 11 Okay so maybe not that simple, yet it has captured me.
At first read it seems overwhelming. Most of us struggle with worthiness anyway, then to add this verse is like adding insult to injury. Another opportunity to not measure up. Take a good look at the verse. One the prayer is God who as at work not us. God's calling, God's reckoning, God's power. What is required from you and I, faith. We have our part to do, however, it is God who is the primary actor in this drama. Our worthiness is connected with the power of God. Perhaps this is an oversimplification, but God has no limit in power.
The passage reminds us all the power and work of God is initiated with our faith. When we follow after God more than other things in our lives, then we initiate all the power of heaven on our behalf. So, do we control God? Not at all. God is going to do what God is going to do. The remaining question is whether we will participate, sit on the sidelines, or work against what God is doing. Paul's prayer for the Thessalonian church, and I think for us, is that we may have the faith to see God work just as he has described. Not for our glory, that Jesus Christ might be glorified.
No comments:
Post a Comment