Verse of the Day 1/28

Verse of the Day 1/28

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.    English Standard Version (ESV)

In Sunday's post from Matthew 7 we considered the necessity of prayer and God's word to do the Lord's calling in our lives and accomplish His work.  We never reach a point where we have "arrived" and can do things on our own in our own power and expect to see the same results.  

In today's passage Paul prays for the Thessalonian church and that their works of faith would be done by God's power.  Do you see the relationship?  The Thessalonians had a "resolve" a desire to do good works, and Paul prays for them that God would fulfill that resolve in HIs power.  John Piper writes:

That means the giver gets the glory. God gave the power. God gets the glory. We have faith; he gives power. We get the help; he gets the glory. That's the deal that keeps us humble and happy, and keeps him supreme and glorious.  Then Paul says that this glorification of Christ is "according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus.  God's answer to Paul's prayer that we rely on God's power to do good works is grace. God's power to enable you to do what you resolve to do is grace.

As we head out into the day may we "resolve" to do good works in ministry but before we do may we spend some time in His Word and  go to the Father in prayer and rely on His power to do good works by His grace.

1. I am resolved no longer to linger,
   Charmed by the world's delight,
   Things that are higher, things that are nobler,
   These have allured my sight.
   • Refrain:
     I will hasten to Him,
     Hasten so glad and free;
     Jesus, greatest, highest,
     I will come to Thee.
2. I am resolved to follow the Savior,
   Faithful and true each day;
   Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth,
   He is the living Way.

Blessings, 

Mike 

2 Thessalonians 1:5-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

5 It is a clear evidence of God's righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God's kingdom, for which you also are suffering, 6 since it is righteous for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you 7 and to reward with rest you who are afflicted, along with us. This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful angels, 8 taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who don't know God and on those who don't obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord's presence and from His glorious strength 10 in that day when He comes to be glorified by His saints and to be admired by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed. 11 And in view of this, we always pray for you that our God will consider you worthy of His calling, and will, by His power, fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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