The glory that will be revealed

On the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you. With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:10-12 NIV

From the text, Paul concludes the opening section of his second letter to Thessalonica with a prayer. This is Paul’s practice that is characteristic of many of the thanksgiving sections of other letters. This is appropriate following all that he said about the coming of Jesus. The return of the Lord Jesus Christ is not just an event or just a doctrine to be believed; it should be part of the creed. It always has a moral and ethical force to it. He, therefore, concludes this section with a two-fold object to his prayer. First, he prays that “God may make you worthy of his calling” (2 Thessalonians 1:11). Christians have been “called” from darkness to light and a life of service. Such new life involves persecution and oppression. Paul prays, with assurance of answer that God by His power will bring into “fruition every desire for goodness and every deed prompted by faith.” This is why the admonition is to remain true with the help of God’s Spirit. The second object of Paul’s prayer is that “our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:12). The purpose of the suffering to which they have been called is to manifest God’s power working within the lives of believers. Through this, their witness to which they are called to live by shows how Christians live their lives obeying His will. It is always God’s will that people hear and respond to the gospel. Because of what the Thessalonians endure, they will be able to witness effectively of their faith. When they live up to that calling and fulfill His purpose, their lives bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. Through their witness, others will come to recognize Jesus as “Lord” and thereby be prepared to receive Him as such when He comes again. Their association with God results in their own “glorification,” that is, recognition of true character in their own lives. Although this may seem to not be visible under the circumstances but in His return their real glory will finally be revealed. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17).

Blessings,