Good Hope Through Grace
Date: March 23, 2023
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study and savor
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
Bible Scripture Verse – 2 Thessalonians 2:16 NIV
"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word."
Listen for God’s Voice
Heavenly Father, we come before you today with grateful hearts, knowing that you have loved us and given us eternal comfort and hope through your grace. We thank you for the comfort and peace that only you can provide.
Lord, we pray that you would strengthen us by your Holy Spirit, that we may be able to stand firm in our faith and not be swayed by the trials and tribulations of this world. Help us to hold on to the hope that we have in Christ, knowing that he has overcome the world.
We ask that you would continue to pour out your love and grace upon us, that we may be filled with all joy and peace as we trust in you. We ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.
Explore History – Who wrote it, when and to what audience? Key people in the story?
This letter was written by the Apostle Paul around 51-52 AD to the church in Thessalonica, a city in Macedonia, where Paul had visited during his second missionary journey. Basically, the purpose of the letter was to encourage the Thessalonians in their faith and to address some misunderstandings that had arisen regarding the second coming of Christ. In 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Paul expresses his gratitude for the comfort and hope that God provides through his grace, and encourages the Thessalonians to hold on to that hope in the face of persecution and suffering.
Overall, 2 Thessalonians is a pastoral letter that offers guidance and encouragement to a community of believers facing various challenges. The verse in question reflects Paul's pastoral concern for the spiritual well-being of his audience, and his conviction that God's grace provides comfort and hope even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
Study and Savor – Key Words
loved us: Indicates that God has a deep and abiding love for His people.
eternal comfort: Refers to the everlasting solace and support that believers receive from God.
good hope: Refers to the confident expectation that believers have of future blessings from God.
grace: Refers to the unmerited favor and kindness that God shows to His people.
establish them: Indicates that God can make believers firm and steadfast in their faith.
every good work and word: Refers to the actions and speech of believers, which should reflect their faith and obedience to God.
Summarize and Share
This verse is a beautiful reminder of the deep and abiding love that God has for us, and the comfort and hope that we can find in Him.
In our world today, there are so many things that can cause us to feel anxious, uncertain, and afraid. We may worry about our health, our relationships, our jobs, or the state of the world around us. But even in the midst of these challenges, we can find comfort and hope in God. He is the one who loves us unconditionally and offers us the gift of eternal life through His grace.
When we are feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, we can turn to God and ask Him to comfort our hearts. He is always ready and willing to listen to our prayers and to offer us the peace that we need. And as we trust in Him and rely on His strength, He can help us to be established in every good work and word. This means that we can be confident in our faith and in our ability to live out our beliefs in practical ways, even when it is difficult.
So today, I encourage you to take some time to reflect on 2 Thessalonians 2:16 and to ask God to comfort your heart and establish you in every good work and word. Spend time in prayer, asking Him to help you trust in His love and grace, and to guide you as you seek to live a life that honors Him. And as you go throughout your day, look for opportunities to share God's love and hope with others, through your actions and your words. Remember that God is with you always, and that He will never leave you or forsake you.
Bible Cross Reference
Ephesians 3:20-21: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." This passage also speaks to the power and love of God and His ability to do more than we could ever ask or imagine.
Hebrews 13:8: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." This verse affirms the unchanging nature of Jesus and His love and grace for us.
Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." This passage echoes the theme of hope and comfort found in 2 Thessalonians 2:16.
1 Peter 5:10: "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." This verse encourages believers to trust in God's grace and His ability to strengthen and establish them, even in the midst of suffering.