Verse of the Day (February 9, 2020)

Verse of the Day (February 9, 2020) #BMSeminary – Happy Lord’s Day! Paul begins and concludes his second letter to the Thessalonian church as he did the first letter, with an apostolic blessing of grace and peace from God (v. 2; 3:18). Amid their persecutions and afflictions, the Thessalonians have continued growing in mutual love, steadfastness, and faith, and so Paul and his companions give thanks to God and boast about them (1:3–4). Paul continues encouraging the church along the same lines as in his previous letter, striving to give them confident hope in the imminent return of Jesus Christ. When we face persecution and affliction in this world, we tend to lose our grasp on our assurance and hope. We may wonder whether our suffering indicates God’s absence from our lives. We wonder if God will ever bring release or vindication from the assaults of enemies. Although we sometimes doubt God’s gospel promises when afflictions and persecutions enter our lives, such trials are evidence that we belong to him (v. 5). Just as Jesus’ own path to glory was through pain, so too is this true for his disciples in a world that is naturally opposed to our God and his gospel (cf. Mark 10:42–45). (Gospel Transformation Study Bible)