2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 - Eternal Motivation.
2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 (NIV) May our Lord
Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved
its and by his grace gave us eternal
encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and
strengthen you in every good deed and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 (MSG) May Jesus
himself and God our Father, who reached out in love
and surprised you with gifts of unending help
and confidence, put a fresh heart in you,
invigorate your work, enliven your speech.
COMMENTARY PEARL
Among my day-to-day activities, Im
tasked with evaluating manuscripts for their
publication potential. In a way, Im a quality-control
specialist in a story factory. I examine an authors
writing with the literary equivalent of a tuning
fork. If it doesnt sing, its removed from
the conveyor belt. I test its integrity. If it
doesnt pass that test, off it comes.
Without fail, two factors will make an
authors submission suspect before I get to the
manuscript - if the authors rsum or cover letter
is overconfident or underconfident.
What am I looking for? What is Jesus
looking for in His followers? Those who understand
the value of appreciating the gifts of
unending help and confidence that can invigorate a
work.
Overconfidence - boasting, puffing up a
rsum or using lofty descriptions of self - shows
the author is dependent on his or her talent.
But amazingly the overconfident are often the
least talented.
Underconfidence - apologetic language,
minimizing the worth of the work, self-shame - reveals
a neglect to tap into and receive the gift of
unending help and confidence with which Jesus
generously blesses those who follow Him.
No matter what our line of work or the
divine assignments weve been given or the
service opportunities to which were assigned, the
offer is there - Christ confidence. It passes all
the tests. by Cynthia Ruchti
Faith Step: Today, believe that the Lord
will send His help and confidence for every
situation. [Mornings With Jesus 2020 Devotional by
Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
When we are pursuing healthy changes,
there's nothing we need more than eternal
encouragement and good hope. That's motivation. We need to
be strengthened in every good deed and word,
because we can't be transformed by willpower alone.
God will often work through people. Who
offers you encouragement when you need it? They are
gifts from God. How can you spend more time with
those people or welcome their help more often?
Soak up their support, and thank them for their
role in your life.
God's Word is another essential source of
encouragement. Consider committing to memory a verse that
fills you with encouragement and strength.
Through other people and his Word, God
will provide the encouragement and strength you
need to reach your goals.
Encouragement and hope will motivate you
to keep going even when it's difficult. These
are priceless treasures that God wants to lavish
on you. [The Daniel Plan 365-Day Devotional]
CLOSING THOUGHT
Again and again, the Bible speaks about
the Father's love or the love of the Lord Jesus.
But today's Scripture speaks of both the Father
and the Son together: "May our Lord Jesus Christ
himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his
grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good
deed and word." God never speaks words of fear or
failure, hopelessness or frustration, into your
heart. You'll never hear His voice counseling you
to give in to defeat or despair. If you do hear
such dark, negative, cynical words echoing in
your soul, you can know for sure where they come
from and its not from God. When the Lord
whispers in your heart, He speaks words of hope and
victory, rest and peace, joy and triumph. If your
heart needs to be strengthened today, clear the
clutter out of your mind, open God's Word, and
listen for the voice of "eternal encouragement and
good hope."
Because Your love is in my heart, Lord, I
have something to give. Because You have infused
"good hope" into my soul, I have hope to pass
along to others. Because You have flooded Your
light into the corners of my soul, I have light to
carry where it's needed most. [A Spectacle of
Glory by Joni Eareckson Tada and Larry Libby]
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio (currently live):
https://bible.awr.org/the-warning/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug
Batchelor:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
