20 Jan February 25th Daily Devotion

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

YOU WILL BE RELIEVED OF YOUR TROUBLES

2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 “God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 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.”

Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” (John 15:18-19) The world can do to you whatever it will do, but at the Last Day it will not be in charge.  Today’s devotional verse says, “ . . . He (Yahweh) will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 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.” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7)

Not only has God chosen you to be His own to live under Him in His kingdom, but God is Just (righteous, holy, perfect.)  He will turn over to His Son on the Last Day the judgment of all who lived on this earth.  At the Parousia, the Last Day, Jesus will come with His angels to “judge the living and the dead.” (Apostle’s Creed)  Jesus says of that day, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.  All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.” (Matthew 25:31-33)

“God is just!” The Last Day will reveal the absolute righteousness of God. R. C. H. Lenski comments, “In this public judgment (the Parousia) before the whole universe of men and angels all will acclaim that God is righteous in acquitting the believers and equally righteous in damning the ungodly and unbelievers.”  No one will question why Jesus placed those on His right and left.

On that day you, a believer in Jesus, will be forever freed of all trials, tribulations, and persecution.  You will receive eternal rest in His kingdom.

Prayer:  Come quickly, Lord Jesus, for I am anxiously waiting for you to come to take me to be with you in paradise forever.  Amen.

Sing with all the saints in glory, Sing the resurrection song!

Death and sorrow, earth’s dark story, To the former days belong.

All around the clouds are breaking;

Soon the storms of time shall cease; In God’s likeness we awaken,

Knowing everlasting peace.

Oh, what glory, far exceeding All that eye has yet perceived!

Holiest hearts for ages pleading Never that full joy conceived.

God has promised, Christ prepares it;

There on high our welcome waits.

Ev’ry humble spirit shares it, Christ has passed the eternal gates.

Life eternal! Heav’n rejoices: Jesus lives who once was dead.

Shout with joy, O deathless voices! Child of God lift up your head!

Life eternal! Oh, what wonders Crowd on faith;

What joy unknown, When, amid earth’s closing thunders,

Saints shall stand before the throne!

(LSB 671)