God’s work… my part

But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:13

Salvation involves the work of God first and foremost. God provided the means of my salvation through the satisfying sacrifice of His Son. The death of Christ provided the satisfaction of the penalty of my sin. The resurrection of Christ provides the means for me to have a new life forever covered by the righteousness of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It all begins with Jesus. It is all provided by this magnificent grace. 

But I must believe. I must, by faith believe this truth. I must commit my hearts and life fully to the reality of my salvation and I must entrust my soul into His care. This is vital. I did not do the saving. I do not do the transforming. But by faith I am saved. By faith I am changed. By faith the Spirit of God comes to dwell within me and my Savior loves to change me. I must believe to know this change. I must commit to Jesus to know I am beloved by the Lord. He did the impossibly hard work of atoning for my sin. I do the trusting, believing, and obeying as He renews my life.

My life has been lived in this tender tension of trusting Jesus Who has done everything for me. And in denying myself, taking up a cross of faith, and following Him, I am totally transformed! And it is He who comforts my heart and establishes me in every good work and word (2 Thessalonians 2:17).

test and provoke

They tested God again and again

and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 78:41

How like ancient Israel

is my own living soul

I forget too soon

the God I know

He is patient

in His grace

yet I am sinful

to His face

I will test Him

in selfish ways

make my demands

reject what He says

I can turn my back

to the Savior’s cross

forgetting He saved Me

at enormous cost

I must not test

the Lord my God

that much is clear

in His Word

Instead repentance

should move my heart

turning from sin

at the start

Lord, I am broken

make me true

although provoking wrath

is what I do

I confess now to

the Holy One

I beg forgiveness

from the Son

And as I pray

on bended knee

I know Your Spirit

remakes me

Although I test You

again and again

You take me back

into Your land

how it will be

…when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

2 Thessalonians 1:10

There isn’t much more to add to Paul’s view on how this is all going to eventually be. Jesus will return. Those who have believed in Him will rejoice, marvel and worship Him. Those who persecute Christians will be dealt a quick justice blow (2 Thessalonians 1:6). Those who have suffered for Jesus’ sake will find relief (2 Thessalonians 1:7). Jesus will come with a host of angelic soldiers to inflict fiery vengeance on those who reject God and disobey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8). They will enter eternal destruction, permanently and finally cast away from the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

This really is how it will be… for certain. Paul, as an apostle, was taught these truths about the future of the world by Jesus Himself. Paul shared this with the church to encourage believers to faithfully cling to Christ and proclaim the gospel despite the resistance and the apparent rise of evil. This helped them to endure. They lived a difficult existence. But knowing that Christ is King and Judge, Savior and Sovereign, brings comfort and strengthens the church with an unstoppable hope.

The truth here still brings needed perspective. The world gets worse and worse. A season of tyrannical power has emerged in our world once again. Wars are everywhere. Communication may be more global and instantaneous than anyone in Thessalonica in the first century could ever have imagined. Yet hate fills hearts, evil abounds, life is cheap, violence is glorified, God is mocked, and the gospel is hated in words or in actions all around us. The world is on the brink of collapse. This is the result of evil ruling hearts. It is time for Jesus to bring justice and in the end, His eternal rule of peace! 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

King of Creation

For the LORD is a great God,

and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth;

the heights of the mountains are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land.

Psalm 95:3-5

You Who made it all

Creation’s Ruler

Universal King

Controller of wind

Director of waves

Sender of storms

Shaker of the earth

You hold this planet

and all that is on it

God Who made me

Ruler of my heart

King of my life

Controller of my destiny

Director of my story

Calmer of my storms

Shaker of my content

You lead all my experience

and all my future

Great God

King of all

Nothing is deeper than Your depths

Nothing is higher than Your throne

No sea will cover Your majesty

No mountain will dwarf Your glory

I worship and bow down

I kneel before my Maker

I am Yours

Everything is Yours

I am led by You

All is led by You

I will breathe in Your care

and exhale the praises of Your greatness

The importance of “ALL”

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Rejoice ALWAYS. This apostolic command to the Thessalonians was given in a season of intense persecution and suffering. And it was given to a church struggling with the right perspective about their future. But Paul taught them to take comfort in the gospel truth of the resurrection and the return of Christ in glorious reign over the world that currently hates Him and His people. That was the perspective to provide hope for rejoicing. Rejoice when? Always. We worship and rejoice not always at what is, but at what Christ has already done and what is certain to come with our hope.

Pray WITHOUT CEASING. This command also was important for the Thessalonians (and for us) to understand. When times are hard: pray. When things go well: pray. When you need hope: pray. When you have hope: pray. When you feel alone: pray. When you are together: pray. There is never a moment of our mortal lives when prayer is incongruous with our circumstances. It is always needed. It is always necessary. It is always good.

Give thanks in ALL circumstances. Thankfulness keeps us humbly in relationship with the God Who saves, keeps, and helps us every day. And no matter what we face, difficult or easy, being grateful to a gracious, merciful, wise, and loving God is always the response we should have. I have to admit, this is not easy during confusing losses or in a culture where wrong seems to be rewarded and righteousness ridiculed. Lament often accompanies my gratefulness. Yet here is this clear, non-negotiable command to give thanks to God for it all. Why? His grace pours into our mess and is transforming us even in the midst of what is hard to handle. Will I believe and trust this truth? Thankfulness helps me keep trusting.

God is wise in instructing us to keep our hope alive at all times by rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks for it ALL. The God of ALL, over ALL, in ALL deserves ALL our worship in this way!

my dwelling place

Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—

the Most High, who is my refuge—

no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

no plague come near your tent.

Psalm 91:9-10

I live in You, Lord

no building of brick and wood

is my true home

it is just a place

to live in Your presence

protected by Your hand

kept by Your mercies

sheltered by Your grace

in awe of Your great name

I live in You, Lord

my refuge from all storms

when life becomes threatening

You are my protection

You are my deliverance

my hope is secure

my help is at hand

my Deliverer is here

I am secure

I live in You, Lord

my tent staked down

until the day that

You take me to our home

I am safe and happy

for God is my dwelling place

the Most High is my refuge

I rejoice in His nearness

I worship in His salvation

those asleep

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

1 Thessalonians 4:14

“Fallen asleep”. That’s Paul’s phrase to describe believers who have preceded us in death. It is a comforting metaphor, not because they are somehow soul slumbering in death. It is a comfort because of the reality that those dead in Christ will rise again. They will return with Jesus at His Second Coming. “Asleep” implies “awakening”. It means that resurrection is a sure thing… as real as knowing that Jesus died and rose again. It is a gospel certainty.

There are times that I long to be with loved ones who are “asleep” right now. I wish for a conversation. I crave their perspective in my current confusion. I’d give anything to hear them talk about their ongoing life with Christ, in Christ, beyond death. I want a lovely hand to hold just one more time, a deep conversation with one who really knows my soul, a hug from a long gone parent, grandparent, or mentor. And so Paul’s words informing me that these loved ones are “asleep” and that a future reunion is guaranteed gives me hope. It may be cloudy today. Sunshine is coming. What I long for is real… as real as the moment I feel right now.

Lord,

I have stood by gravesides and memorials and wept. I will do so again soon. One day others will do so for me. I remember dear friends and family, my close loves, now “asleep”. With them I await Your “cry of command”, the voice of the archangel, and the trumpet of God to sound! And I will see them again right by Your side! If I die today, I know that I too after “sleeping” will hear that trumpet and arrive alongside all of them. I do not weep hopelessly. I miss these people. I really do. I miss my sleeping family, brothers, and sisters in Jesus. Yet I hope. I smile in my tears knowing that day will surely come when remembering is changed to an awakened reality. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Amen