SCRIPTURE: 2Thessalonians (NIV) 1:6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
OBSERVATION: God’s justice is an expression of his holiness. It is perfect. When we think of justice in our nation, we think of courts and judges. That is a very important part of justice, but it is only half the story. In God, justice does not only have to do with punishing the wicked, but also with rewarding the righteous.
Paul points to God’s justice to encourage those suffering persecution. And his inclusion “as to us as well,” indicates that Paul takes courage and strength himself from the thought of God’s justice. This is not the end of the story. What is ahead makes it well worth putting up with this temporary trouble we experience.
APPLICATION: Those in hospitals want to know when they will be going home. Anyone going through trouble wants to know when it will end. It will end when Jesus returns. He will return with great glory, not coming again like a newborn baby in a manger. The angels will not be limited to announcing his arrival to shepherds. He will come with “blazing fire” and “powerful angels.”
PRAYER: Lord, what a day that will be when you return to set up your kingdom on earth! Then you will rule in holiness and love. Courts will not be swayed away from truth. After years of rule by men with selfishness, greed, graft, dishonesty and evil, the world will be ruled by The Only One Worthy! You proved you are holy by your life on earth and you proved you are loving by dying for our sins! Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen
Pastor Leon
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