2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

2 Thes. 1:11 “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: 12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“Wherefore also we pray always for you…” There are several reasons that we pray for other people. We pray for their well being; we pray giving thanks for them and their labors; we pray for their needs; we pray the Lord direct them and give them the things they need to better serve him; etc. In the above Paul prayed first of all that God would count them worthy of this calling. The calling in regeneration is of the Lord and is a perfect work creating an inner man that cannot sin. Thus, the calling here is not the calling in regeneration. It is a calling to service. The gospel calls the Lord people to repent and serve the Lord. If we are serving the Lord according to the teaching of his word and with our whole heart, soul, and mind and strength, then we are proving ourselves worthy of this calling.

Moreover, Paul gives us an example for prayer. Paul didn’t just pray one or two times and say that is another prayer for this purpose. Rather Paul stated that we pray always for you. This teaches us that we should pray for one another that the Lord continually bless the Lord’s people in the church in their labors and that the labors of the Lord’s people would be worthy of the calling to serve the Lord. This prayer should be continual for the Lord’s people in his churches.

“fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:” In praying for the Lord’s people at Thessalonica Paul prayed to God that they might “fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness.” A key word in this verse is the word “all.” We should strive to fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness and not just some of the good pleasure of his goodness. We are not to be part time or partial disciples. We live in a society of “pick and choose” religion, i.e., people want to pick and choose what they want to do in serving the Lord. When it comes to serving the Lord we should remember that we are His servants and not just co-workers with the Lord.

Moreover, we are to “fulfil the work of faith with power.” As we have previously set forth in previous essays faith is manifest by work. By faith we put our hands to the plow and not look back but rather set forth to accomplish the work the Lord has given for us to accomplish. Sometimes we feel ourselves unable to accomplish the task the Lord may have given us. It is here that we must rely on the power (ability and strength) of the Holy Spirit to enable us to do what we feel unable to do.

“That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The word “Lord” speaks of God being our Master and we His servants. The word “Jesus” speaks to God being our Savior. The name “Christ” speaks to God being our King and High Priest.” Matt. 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” By living our life according to the teaching of God’s word and according to the leadership of the Spirit of God we will accomplish the good works that the Lord has created us for and glorify the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in ourselves and him in us. Of course, this all happens according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.