One of the most glaring in a good way, characteristics of this church is that they are only commended not criticized. This is rare in these letters. So, in a very real way they are a sort of community par excellence. As such, any church would be wise to imitate their example. If we did, what would be the result… Our faithfulness and absolute trust, even in the face of trials, and a secure future in His Kingdom.
None of us come neutral to anything we read. Neutrality is a myth. This is especially so with the Book of Revelation. All of us have thoughts about this text! One of the things these early introductory verses help us see is that this book has much to say about Jesus (primarily) and much to say about who we are and will be as His followers (secondarily). The details around these two realities will be the focus of this Sunday’s message.
Paul is seeking in this passage to both encourage and call on his listeners to encourage others to be hopeful about those who have died in Christ. It is absolutely not the end for them. They can and must remain hopeful. But how? Paul gives clear direction. They (and we!) remain hopeful by looking to Jesus (the One who died but didn’t stay dead), listening to what Jesus says on this matter, and by going and comforting others with these truths.
Even though we will look at only one verse today, it is packed with deep theological truth. Paul lays out what a church really is. Certainly, it is what the church at Thessalonica was, but it is also what we ought to be.
As the sermon title not-so-subtly alludes, this passage is quite political. But not in the way folks might assume. While it does discuss political policies that the Israelites have embraced, ultimately the text shows God to be critical of those policies. In many ways this passage is a polemic against domestic and foreign dealings that don’t defer to God and yield to His way. But that doesn’t mean God is apolitical. It would seem from this text and elsewhere that He is anything but!
So we start fresh in 2023 hopefully with some realistic and stretching expectations to direct us in our day-by-day life journey with Christ. Heed His promise as the One who is in control of each step on that pathway. BE all those things He expects of you and desires for you as you expectantly pursue Him. Be…. Informed, Concerned, Ready and Faithful
The Kingdom of God is a mystery. It is here now but not in its fulness. We are welcome to live in it now and point to our coming King by living with Jesus as our king right where we are.
Through prayer we have community with God and we are called to submission and dependence on God