2We
give thanks to God always concerning all of you, making mention [of you] upon
our prayers …
At first glance, these words would seem like simply part of a
courteous introduction to Paul’s letter. However, since this is God’s Word,
every sentence is precious and certainly packed with encouraging truth if we
but slow down and ponder it.
And so I do.
First of all, stop and ponder that Paul immediately says he “gives
thanks to God.” That might seem almost cliché, but is it? Is it not rather the
very essence of faith itself that we see God in everything? When Paul is moved
to gratefulness for his friends at Thessalonica, his heart immediately thinks
of God. Why? Because he sees God as the Great Cause. He sees that “in Him we live and
move and have our being,” that “of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all
things: to Whom be glory for ever. Amen.” Think about it: Peter could walk on
water, as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. He only sank when he looked away
and saw instead the wind and the waves. I would suggest that it is true in my
own life -- that as long as I can “see” the Lord, as long as I see Him in
everything that is happening around me and to me, I can stay calm, love, and work
hard all at the same time. My problem is that so easily I see only the wind and
the waves and my heart fills with fear. In a sense, the problem is not that I’m
seeing the wind and the waves, but rather that I’m not seeing God! Oh, the power in those simple words, “I thank God …”
I need to be much more deliberate about thanking Him constantly – no matter
what is happening – because in so doing I remind myself He is the Great Cause. We
can totally trust Him who is our Rock and our Peace and our Shelter, our good
God who does us good, and so, no matter what, we can thank Him. Seeing Him we
can thank Him. Thanking Him we can see Him. Lord help me be more thankful and
let me know the joy and peace Your presence brings.
Note too he says he thanks God for “all of you.” Again, that
might seem like simply a polite cliché, but is it? I want to pause and remember
for a minute this is one of the wonders of grace, this love “to all.” “Come
unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden …” “And I, if I be
lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me …” “He is the
atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the
whole world.” “Whosoever will may come.” Other than
my parents, from my earliest memories as a child, it was always true that
people’s love was very conditional. Whether it was just adults in general, or
teachers, or coaches, or even church people, if you did well, you were on their
A list, when you didn’t do well, your name was mud. Approval was always very,
very conditional. I had one teacher/coach, Louis Baker, who always, always,
always encouraged me and supported me whether I was having a good day or bad.
But sadly, including my parents, that makes three people who loved me unconditionally.
Such is the world we all live in. Conditional love.
Performance-based approval. But, thank God, that is not His world. It is our
world, perverted by our sin. Being
incorrigible legalists, our very being is shot through with this performance-based
approval system. God’s world is rather a world of grace, a world of “whosoever
will.” His love is offered and available and free to all who will simply accept
it. Is this not precisely why Jesus was so loved by the tax-collectors,
prostitutes, and ‘sinners?’ It’s because He loved them – unconditionally –
because He communicated a respect that could even say, “Go and sin no more,”
but say it in a way where they knew He loved them. As Paul writes to the Thessalonians, he’s not stupid. He’s
not somehow delusively imagining they’re all perfect. But he can honestly say
to them, “We thank God for all of
you.” Why? Because he sees them through God’s eyes – as people who Jesus died
for. That is exactly how each of us needs to be seen. Right? If I’m loved
conditionally, I’m lost. I need to be loved unconditionally. And what about how
I see the rest of the world? I need to see them God’s way. I need to
communicate to them the same love their God in Heaven loves them with. Grace
will make us that way. It made Paul that way.
Finally, I want to note Paul’s words, “mentioning you in our
prayers.” What a blessing is it to know someone somewhere actually prays for me?
For me. They mention me by name. To God. In prayer. The
Thessalonians could be confident that this guy Paul actually, really prays for
them. What a blessing is that? What does it mean today to have someone who
actually, really does pray for you? Then let’s turn it around: who knows I’m
praying for them? Is there anyone I am praying for? Do we all realize just
how much it would mean to others to really know we’re praying for them? I say
this almost fearing that the words “I’m praying for you,” are so cliché that I
wonder if we even believe each other? We need to make it a point to in fact
lift people up in prayer and then make it a point to follow it up with asking
them how it’s going.
May I really be a
far more thankful person, seeing our good God as the Great Cause. May knowing Him
really make me a gracious person who
not only enjoys grace but then extends it to others. And finally may I really truly bless other people by being
one of the people they can genuinely count on to keep their name lifted up in
prayer. Really.
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