2 Thessalonians 1
I was teaching confirmation class,
talking about the Lord’s Supper and the forgiveness of sins. I love teaching this lesson because the
students already know a lot about the Lord’s Supper and the class is more of a
conversation where they get to show off what they know instead of a lecture
from me. When I asked them how important
it was that they receive forgiveness they knew it was vastly important, in fact
that it was our only hope and the greatest gift. They had grasped the profound truth that God
loves and forgives sinners – even them.
Somehow the conversation moved to a
religious comparison and they talked about Islam and the requirements to pray
five times a day, and they spoke about other religions and their
requirements. Then one of the students
told us that they had been talking about world religions in the social studies
class and there was a question on the test about which religions require you to
do something to earn eternal life. The
curriculum approved answer was “all of them.”
This young lady, however, took issue with that answer with some of her
Christian classmates and talked about how salvation was a free gift from
God.
I smiled as I listened to her and other
students who had taken that test talk about how they had handled talking to the
teacher about that test question. I
was/am proud of them for having the courage to (a) talk to an adult about their
faith and (b) speak the truth in love about the hope they have in Jesus, and I
thank God for what He is doing in them.
St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian
Christians, “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.
Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your
steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that
you are enduring.”
What a joy it is to see people living in
the faith, standing up for the Word of God, and sharing the hope that is within
them in loving, Christ-like fashion.
Thanks be to God for you, too, because you live in Jesus’ forgiveness
and it makes a difference in your life.
Rejoice in God’s grace at work in you and your brothers and sisters in
Christ!
Lord Jesus, thank You for all You do through
Your children. Amen.
Comments