Who needs eternal comfort?
Who needs good hope through grace?
Out of love for us, God puts His Name on us and unites us to Christ in baptism.
Hope is energized when we remember who we are, marked with the cross of the One who forgives, makes us worthy of God’s love, and saves us from sin, death, and Satan. To affect spiritual growth, the Holy Spirit supplies the Word to work within and nurture us, to create a clean heart that trusts and loves God. As sinners who lead a repentant life, we confess our faith and stay connected to Truth by regularly hearing the Word preached. We’re forgiven and strengthened by entering the presence of God in the Lord’s Supper, focusing on the Lord Jesus and all He has done for us. Church-family across the world worships, sings, thanks and praises God in unity! Faith motivates good goals as we pray for God’s will. Toward others, we prayerfully seek to be actively
- kind
- forgiving
- loving
- encouraging
- consoling
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
2 Thessalonians 1:3
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
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| Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 |
Jesus is dependable to eternally care for all who believe.
As we wander around in a sinful world ruled by the devil, our natural fallen human nature is easily led astray in thought, word and deed. Our Father in Heaven chooses to use His power and authority through His presence in our lives to guard, protect and deliver us from evil. The Holy Spirit’s work is vital to get us through thick/thin, good/bad, happy/sad, birth/death and beyond as life goes on. The Lord’s peace keeps us safe and guides us away from hanging out in harmful situations.
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Status now and forever—when God sorts things out and brings justice.
The life we know will pass and we can look forward to new things. Either the worst is yet to come for unbelievers separated to endure everlasting suffering, or, the best is yet to come for believers gathered in the new creation in a state of
never-ending blessedness. We are fully known by our Creator. Jesus will identify some to have chosen to minimize sin, refused to repent, rejected grace by faith, given Him the cold shoulder; others to have received the Holy Spirit’s gifts of faith in Him, grasped grace to repent, embraced forgiveness, thanked Him, endured hardships while trusting and loving the Word.
“That Christ will be the Judge is good news, since He is the one Who died and rose again for the salvation of all. Those who fill are clothed in His righteousness will meet Him as the Savior, whereas those who rely on their own righteousness will meet Him as their condemning Judge.” projectwittenberg
We see God by the faith He freely offers; God sees us through Christ-goggles.
When God looks at us, He sees His Son who bled for us to pay the price of punishment we deserve for our sin. The Creator’s design of faith
establishes for us good hope, good work and word. Believing, we’re being made holy by Jesus to the glory
of God’s perfection and comforting presence forever!
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. … Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5,16
Regardless of what the devil is doing in the world to plant worry and sadness, God’s peace that passes understanding is for us through the blood of our Savior. In Jesus Name we can forgive and pray for His peace to come to others, not cursing, but blessings for our enemies and those we don’t like or who do us harm.
“O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”
Collect For Peace—LSB p233
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