2 Thessalonians 1:1-4 (NIV)
Paul, Silas and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
There are way too few covenants in today's world. Way too few.
A "covenant" is a deeply held commitment, with significant spiritual implications.
It is a determination to stand by a person or people, through thick and thin, in a relationship of mutual support and accountability.
A marriage, a family...a church...they are all places of covenant.
The Thessalonian church didn't do everything right in the eyes of Paul, Timothy and Silas.
But the beginning of their second letter to them tells us one big thing that they definitely did have going.
They loved each other...in the context of covenant...and persecution.
Maybe that's the key. The Thessalonian church needed a covenant.
The world was clearly out to get them. They were willing to die for the message of Christ. That's a pretty clear mission focus. That focus, and the immediate reality of clear and present danger to their cause (and lives), brought the importance of their covenant into clear, sharp focus.
Christians in 21st century America, and many other parts of the world as well, don't think we need to love each other.
When everything else is disposable, why not our churches, friendships and commitments as well?
Give me what I want...or these boots are made for walking.
There is another way. It's counter-cultural. It's not as easy. It is so much better.
Covenant. Faith, perseverance, love. Anti-disposable culture.
May this be our way in the world...and may we find just enough persecution to realize our need for each other in Christ.
Prayer: We learn from this scripture how much the Thessalonians loved each other and lived together in community. May you bless us with your grace and do the same in our families, churches and neighborhoods today.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.
Tomorrow's Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
2 comments:
Let me start by talking about my Wife...oh wait I don't have a wife but I have already broken my covenant with her. Although I broke the covenant with the girl that I hope will be my wife, I still was unfaithful to my future wife. In my opinion, that is a covenant...."I will wait for you"...and I didn't...I broke that covenant.
I am so glad that Christ was sent to wipe away those broken promises. That is so refreshing and relieving. I am 100% sure that I will break many more promises/covenants throughout my life, not purposely, but because I am human. Mercy is a great gift.
We, as a culture, tend to either overlook or disregard covenants or promises. Like the one Andrew mentioned in marriage. Or as simple as a promise to do something or be somewhere. We treat them like something we SHOULD remember, and its just a bonus if we follow through with it. I went through a phase once when I just didnt make any sort of promises.
Isnt that extremely saddening?
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