Sunday: Fresh Greetings
“Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our
Image © Rolf Jansson from GoodSalt.com
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 1:1, 2). What hope and promise is found even in such a simple greeting as this? How much theology is in there, how much hope, how much promise? How can we learn to make these hopes and promises our own?
Paul, as he does so often, talks about grace and peace. In one sense, are they not related? Shouldn’t the realization of God’s grace, the promise of forgiveness in Jesus, lead to peace in our lives? How crucial that, no matter our circumstances, we all take time to dwell on the wonderful provision of salvation made for us and the grace it offers us, regardless of our unworthiness. What better way to experience the peace that we are promised? We need to keep the focus off ourselves and on Jesus and what we have been given in Him.
Compare 1 Thessalonians 1:1 with 2 Thessalonians 1:1, 2. There’s a small difference in the wording. What significance might be found in that difference?
There is one difference between 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Paul changes from “in God the Father” (1 Thess. 1:1) to “in God our Father” (2 Thess. 1:1). This adds a relational touch. There are people who feel close to Jesus yet are afraid of God the Father. Paul assures the Thessalonians that they can have as much confidence in their relationship with the Father as they do with Jesus. Jesus came to this earth to show us what the Father is like.
Read John 1:18 and 14:7-11. What assurance and hope can we draw from these texts, especially in light of 2 Thessalonians 1:1, 2?
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It is also encouraging to note that Paul was at the core, reminding them of the Grace, Peace and Love that God offers. Amidst the challenges, confusion and despire, Paul found it inevitable to bring to the minds of the Thessalonians the importance of contemplating on these virtues. When we begin to dwell on the grace, love, and peace God gives us in Jesus, all the problems we encounter will be swallowed up.
One lesson we can draw from this is how God and Jesus are presented to the Church in Thesalonica, He is not just a distant deity but He is "OUR GOD" and "OUR FATHER" because half the time we look at God as the God of the Bible or the God of the Israelites and fail to see that He is also our God and very much our Father. Another point to note is how Paul presents his relationship with God to the Church, He brings them greetings from the creator of the universe, that in itself is beyond encouraging or uplifting 🙂
"God the Father" He is "Our Father In Heaven". Jesus said, unless you be like these children you shall not enter the Kingdom of God; Matt 18:3. Without "Our Father", we like a child will hunger and be exposed to the element of death. God is our providence, whom we cannot live without in the hope of receiving our redemption and salvation. And here in this aging earth, we have lived like children in the little garden or in the little baby crib. We have been well fed and provided, but there is a time when "Our Father" would reach out His Hands to us and pick us up, toward Heaven and would say, I come to take you to a better and safer place to live. He will take us to Heaven where we will live with God and Angels. How incredible that would be. I also would love to see Jesus, and hear Him saying the all powerful word from His very mouth, as the earth turns to its original beauty as in the beginning. I would love to travel with Him through the Universe and among billions of stars as we voyage toward our beautiful heavenly home. Thank you God Almighty. Amen.
That is beautiful but how about now, where is our Father in this middle east crisis, as terrorist are at it again, as people are suffering, is He only the Father of some and not all?
Gary, it is always troubling when good people are victims of the wicked. It has always been that way since the fall of Adam and Eve and our time is no exception.
The prophet Habakkuk raised the same questions to God which received an answer. Read both chapters 1 & 2 in the book of Habakkuk. In those chapters the prophet was questioning God about His inaction amidst rampant corruption and violence.
Thank you, Sam, for your thought-provoking word pictures, such as
They make us think of the difference between what this earth is now and what God intended it to be -- something we don't consider often enough. And the space travel for which millions are spent now is nothing at all in comparison to the space travel God has planned for us. 🙂
This is a great assurance of hope.
Hi, Inge Anderson.I haven't been visiting this corner in a while. And yeah, thank you for your comment. You know, I had all the chances to search for what I thought was a "better life" including philosophies. But nothing beats the 'Teachings of Jesus Christ." If one can think of any experiences of happiness, just wait till Jesus comes, and that's when you will experience the real and true heavenly joy in the Kingdom of God. Amen. :))
God is Spirit, and we "worship Him in Spirit as God is Spirit". And for one to understand God, it requires one to believe and having faith in the hope. And when one prays,do acknowledge the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as these are 3 heads in One God. God bless you.