The love of God and the endurance of Christ

I wrote something similar to this post last month, but as I was writing this for my church today, and there are a few additional points, I thought I’d put it here too.

All of us face trials at one time or another. And it is easy to wonder where God is at those times.

Paul himself knew suffering, and so he asked for the Thessalonians’ prayers.

But through it all, he remembered three things:

1. Jesus is faithful.
2. Jesus will strengthen us.
3. He will guard us against Satan. For even if Satan were to destroy our bodies (and Paul was ultimately killed for Jesus’ sake), he cannot touch our souls.

And so Paul tells us this,

May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance. (2 Thessalonians 3:5)

Whenever you go through trials, remember that God does love you (Romans 8:35-39). Let that be the rock on which you stand.

How can we know that God truly loves us? Because of what Christ endured on the cross.

Jesus truly does understand our suffering, because he himself suffered, not for his own sins, but for yours.

So whatever trial you may be facing, remember the words of the author of Hebrews.

For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up. (Hebrews 12:3).

And each day, “May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.”