Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  2024  Day 132

May 11;       2 Thessalonians 1:4;        188/260;        ‘Patience and Faith’

2 Thessalonians 1:4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,

What a perfect example of turning what the devil means for evil into good.  Paul, who knew very well persecutions and tribulation, had great admiration for the church in Thessalonica.  As Paul traveled, and in his correspondence with other churches, he boasted of the endurance of this church.  When challenges come, it is easy to complain and get into self pity.  The church in Thessalonica did not do this.  The devil is not omniscient as the Lord is.  He only knows that the trials he instigates and sends are having his desired negative affect on the church by what the congregation says or does.  Our mortal enemy, satan, is used to people becoming discouraged and miserable when persecution rears its ugly head.  When the church in Thessalonica faced severe trials, they did not behave like many others.  They trusted Jesus and faced the circumstances patiently and with strong faith in the Lord.  Since Jesus is Lord and He always causes us to triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14), when a church is united, patiently by faith knowing the Lord will turn the circumstances around, the devil’s attacks are defeated and the victorious position of the congregation becomes a witness to other churches.  An additional blessing of a church standing strong in the midst of trials is that every time Jesus in looked to and believed on in faith, that congregation becomes stronger, better able to stand firm against anything the devil may do.  We are in this world, but we are not of this world.  If a church stands in faith regardless, what a testimony that is.