2 Thessalonians 1:3-8

Thank you father for answering our prayers and petitions to save immigrant children from the separation of their parents! prayers work!

God wants no one to perish…no not one and the Body Of Christ means everything to Him. The two are not unrelated. 

Who are we to care about? ALL of His creation. He shows no partiality whether they accept the truth of the salvation of Jesus as a gift from their loving Father or do not acknowledge He is their Father. He showers His love on the just and the unjust. 

Jesus willingly gave His life for all people. Believers need to show others the love of the One who loves them with an agape love.

Spread the Good News while there is time!

Paul boasts about the Thessalonians because of the flourishing of their faith and love. For this reason, they serve as a model for other churches. God rules as King. The believers suffer persecution because they have declared allegiance to Jesus, a king other than Caesar. Paul encourages them that their response to this persecution—increased faith in God and love for others is proof that they are worthy of God’s kingdom. The title “Lord” (Greek, kyrios) threatened Caesar’s claim to lordship. Faithlife Bible.

The Thessalonians’ steadfast faith not only strengthened them to withstand difficult circumstances, it also motivated them to express genuine love for others. A Christian’s faith in Christ should always culminate in true love for others. Persecution not only tests faith but reveals it and causes it to grow. Continued faith and endurance through persecutions provide a testimony for Christ, of which Paul was boasting to the other churches. NKJ Bible.

2 Thessalonians 1:3–8 (NKJV)

³ We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, ⁴ so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, ⁵ which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; ⁶ since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, ⁷ and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, ⁸ in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 (NKJV)

¹⁹ For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?