“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13–14, RSV)
When studying scripture, it is always a good idea to ask yourself, “What did God do here in this verse?” By focusing on the actions of God, you can not only understand the purpose of God but also the hopes God has for the future. You can learn more about God’s characteristics and intentions. This helps you to see more clearly how you fit into God’s plans.
Looking more closely at the scripture reading above, Paul wrote several things about God worth noting. First, he wrote that the faithful are “beloved by the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 2:13a). Second, he wrote that God “chose you from the beginning to be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:13b). How did God do this? Third, God “called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:14). Put together, these two verses make clear that God made you “beloved”, “chose you”, and “called you” to be part of His Kingdom and “obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Based on these actions of God, you are very important to God in Christ. In fact, the gospel was meant specifically to save you. God never intended you to be lost in sin, mired in despair, alone, and discouraged. God desired you to be on His side in this life and into the next. How well have you done in responding to God’s call? Have you felt “beloved” by the Lord? Do you see why God chose you as a part of His plans for His Kingdom?
Years ago, I came across a cartoon of a little boy. In that cartoon, the little boy is praying and thinking, “I am somebody, cause God don’t make no junk”! The picture reminded me of a young man named Pete from our church who felt himself a constant failure (I’ve changed the name, of course!”). Pete wasn’t very bright. He consistently received poor grades in school. He was a lot like Gilligan, on the TV series, “Gilligan’s Island”. If someone would mess up while working on the farm, it was this young man. Because his shoes kept getting untied, he would fall often. Because Pete wasn’t careful about what was going on around him, he was known to hit his head on the low shelves in the barn or back into wet paint while he worked to spruce up the milking room. The other workers even called him, “Dennis the Menace”!
Because he made so many mistakes in his life, because of the teasing he took on the farm, because of his poor school grades, Pete saw himself as a screwup. Pete constantly berated himself and regretted his own feelings. If I heard it one time, I heard it a thousand times from his mouth, “I’m so sorry!”. Sometimes I wondered if Pete ever thought himself worthy of anything good.
Then, one day at a church event, I saw a little boy crying outside the church. Pete was down on his knees in front of the little guy. From a few feet away, I heard Pete tell the little boy, “Hey it’s OK! We all mess up. You’ll get through this. Jesus loves you. I know it in my heart.” I was awestruck. Because of all the ribbing, Pete wasn’t turning out depressed or full of self-loathing. Pete’s mistakes made him more capable of offering grace, forgiving others, looking out for the loneliest, comforting the hurt. Pete loved God, because Pete felt that unconditional love from God. Pete instinctively felt beloved. He felt called to comfort others with kind words. He found his place in God’s Kingdom.
When you understand how much you are beloved to God, it helps you to look for your own place in God’s Kingdom. Understanding that you were chosen by the Lord to be saved, you need to find your purpose in God’s plans.
As you look back on your life today, how well have you adapted to God’s purpose for your life? How much of your time has been devoted to responding when God calls or feeling God’s grace? Have you done your part to further God’s Kingdom? Do you utilize the specific gifts God gave you in order to fulfill your calling?
Above all, I hope you feel loved. “God don’t make no junk!” You are somebody special to God. The gospel of Jesus Christ was authored for you. Heaven was created for you. God has plans for you! Now, just live your life like all this means something!
Looking more closely at the scripture reading above, Paul wrote several things about God worth noting. First, he wrote that the faithful are “beloved by the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 2:13a). Second, he wrote that God “chose you from the beginning to be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:13b). How did God do this? Third, God “called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:14). Put together, these two verses make clear that God made you “beloved”, “chose you”, and “called you” to be part of His Kingdom and “obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Based on these actions of God, you are very important to God in Christ. In fact, the gospel was meant specifically to save you. God never intended you to be lost in sin, mired in despair, alone, and discouraged. God desired you to be on His side in this life and into the next. How well have you done in responding to God’s call? Have you felt “beloved” by the Lord? Do you see why God chose you as a part of His plans for His Kingdom?
Years ago, I came across a cartoon of a little boy. In that cartoon, the little boy is praying and thinking, “I am somebody, cause God don’t make no junk”! The picture reminded me of a young man named Pete from our church who felt himself a constant failure (I’ve changed the name, of course!”). Pete wasn’t very bright. He consistently received poor grades in school. He was a lot like Gilligan, on the TV series, “Gilligan’s Island”. If someone would mess up while working on the farm, it was this young man. Because his shoes kept getting untied, he would fall often. Because Pete wasn’t careful about what was going on around him, he was known to hit his head on the low shelves in the barn or back into wet paint while he worked to spruce up the milking room. The other workers even called him, “Dennis the Menace”!
Because he made so many mistakes in his life, because of the teasing he took on the farm, because of his poor school grades, Pete saw himself as a screwup. Pete constantly berated himself and regretted his own feelings. If I heard it one time, I heard it a thousand times from his mouth, “I’m so sorry!”. Sometimes I wondered if Pete ever thought himself worthy of anything good.
Then, one day at a church event, I saw a little boy crying outside the church. Pete was down on his knees in front of the little guy. From a few feet away, I heard Pete tell the little boy, “Hey it’s OK! We all mess up. You’ll get through this. Jesus loves you. I know it in my heart.” I was awestruck. Because of all the ribbing, Pete wasn’t turning out depressed or full of self-loathing. Pete’s mistakes made him more capable of offering grace, forgiving others, looking out for the loneliest, comforting the hurt. Pete loved God, because Pete felt that unconditional love from God. Pete instinctively felt beloved. He felt called to comfort others with kind words. He found his place in God’s Kingdom.
When you understand how much you are beloved to God, it helps you to look for your own place in God’s Kingdom. Understanding that you were chosen by the Lord to be saved, you need to find your purpose in God’s plans.
As you look back on your life today, how well have you adapted to God’s purpose for your life? How much of your time has been devoted to responding when God calls or feeling God’s grace? Have you done your part to further God’s Kingdom? Do you utilize the specific gifts God gave you in order to fulfill your calling?
Above all, I hope you feel loved. “God don’t make no junk!” You are somebody special to God. The gospel of Jesus Christ was authored for you. Heaven was created for you. God has plans for you! Now, just live your life like all this means something!