20 Jan February 23rd Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT THESSALONICA

 A MODEL TO FOLLOW – PART II

2 Thessalonians 1:4 “. . . among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.”

Today’s devotional verse continues St. Paul’s commendation of the Christians in Thessalonica.  Yesterday’s devotion emphasized  the faith and love these Christians manifested.  Today’s again mentions their faith and adds yet another characteristic of this congregation.  They persevered in spite of the “trials they were enduring.”

Their trials were not self-generated.  They were suffering persecution from those in their community because of their faith in Jesus and their mission zeal. The simple solution to end their persecution was to renounce their faith in Jesus or at least stop spreading the gospel among the unbelievers of Thessalonica.

The persecutions, rather than a detraction, served to encourage.  Their perseverance under such duress served to positively motivate fellow Christians.  Their faith endured.  There was nothing more important to them than their relationship with Jesus Christ.

For us Christians in the United States, persecution is something that happens somewhere else.  Any persecution that does occur here is more subtle than overt.  So, the emphasis of today’s verse that is most applicable to us is on the word “perseverance.” Persistence in your faith, especially when you are experiencing difficulties in your life, is not always easy.

Remember, you can do all things through Him who gives you strength. (Philippians 4:13) St. Paul found his strength to endure and persevere in Christ’s promise to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore,” Paul said,  “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Prayer:  Jesus, my Good Shepherd, grant me strength through your daily presence to persevere and endure no matter what is happening in my life.  In Your holy name.  Amen.

I walk in danger all the way.  The thought shall never leave me

That Satan, who has marked his prey, Is plotting to deceive me.

This foe with hidden snares May seize me unawares

If I should fail to watch and pray.  I walk in danger all the way.

I pass through trials all the way, With sin and ills contending;

In patience I must bear each day The cross of God’s own sending,

When in adversity I know not where to flee,

When storms of woe my soul dismay, I pass through trials all the way.

And death pursues me all the way, Nowhere I rest securely,

He comes by night, he comes by day, He takes his pray most surely

A failing breath, and I In death’s strong grasp may lie

To face eternity today As death pursues me all the way.

I walk with angels all the way, They shield me and befriend me;

All Satan’s pow’r is held at bay When heav’nly hosts attend me;

They are my sure defense, All fear and sorrow, hence!

Unharmed by foes, do what they may, I walk with angels all the way.

I walk with Jesus all the way, His guidance never fails me;

Within His wounds I find a stay When Satan’s pow’r assails me;

And by His footsteps led, My path I safely tread.

No evil leads my soul astray; I walk with Jesus all the way.

My walk is heav’nward all the way; Await, my soul, the morrow,

When God’s good healing shall allay All suff’ring, sin, and sorrow.

Then, worldly pomp, begone! To heav’n I now press on.

For all the world I would not stay; My walk is heav’nward all the way.

(LSB 716)