Devo 38:10: "Jesus Will Make It Right!" II Thess 1:5-10

You're suffering now, but justice is on the way. I Thess 1:5

What happens when people persecute you and mistreat you because of your faith in Christ? Not because you have done anything wrong, but because they hate the Jesus in you! Is there anything redemptive in suffering for your faith. Does anything good come out of it?

What happens to people who seem to get away with cursing Jesus and his Gospel and despising his people! They continually reject God though He gives them many, many times to repent! Does God see what they are doing?

The Apostle Paul says yes!

Although it seems so unjust and so unfair, God will make it right!

Paul addresses this in his letter to the persecuted Thessalonians:

5-10 All this trouble is a clear sign that God has decided to make you fit for the kingdom. You're suffering now, but justice is on the way. When the Master Jesus appears out of heaven in a blaze of fire with his strong angels, he'll even up the score by settling accounts with those who gave you such a bad time. His coming will be the break we've been waiting for. Those who refuse to know God and refuse to obey the Message will pay for what they've done. Eternal exile from the presence of the Master and his splendid power is their sentence. But on that very same day when he comes, he will be exalted by his followers and celebrated by all who believe—and all because you believed what we told you. II Thess 1:5-10, The Message

Martin Luther King said: The Ark of Justice is long but it bends towards justice.
God does not work on our timetable. Many times people despise and mistreat us because we love Jesus. We have walked away from the worldly lifestyle. We no longer do what they do or embrace what they embrace. The Jesus in us makes them feel guilty! They can't strike out at God so they srike out at us. They may even call us names: prude, holy roller, self righteous, fundamentalist, narrow minded, stuck in the mud, boring - because we no longer embrace the values of the world!

Such was the case of the Thessalonians! They were being persecuted for their faith but Paul gave them a word of encouragement. He said: All this trouble is a clear sign that God has decided to make you fit for the kingdom. You're suffering now, but justice is on the way. When the Master Jesus appears out of heaven in a blaze of fire with his strong angels, he'll even up the score by settling accounts with those who gave you such a bad time.

Their suffering was a sign that they were living right! The devil is not threatened by a shabby life! He is threatened by a righteous life!

Of course our hope is that our persecutors will repent and turn to God. That should be our prayer-not that God will wipe them out!

What will happen to people who hate Jesus and hate his people and refuse to repent? Paul says those who: refuse to know God and refuse to obey the Message will pay for what they've done. Eternal exile from the presence of the Master and his splendid power is their sentence.


On the other hand, Jesus will be exalted by his followers and celebrated by all who believe


Two words of caution and balance. If people ridicule us because of sin in our lives, we are not being persecuted for righteousness sake, we just need to humble ourselves and repent and admit to them that we blew it! I have done that in the past and have been amazed at the response of the non believer! They didn't expect me to admit I was wrong! If we are at odds with our brother or sister in Christ, we need to pray for reconcilation with our brother or sister - not banish them to hell because they disagree with us! In these cases, it is important to put our pride and rights aside, humble ourselves and work towards peace for the sake of the body. If you can't work it out now-keep the peace and let God work it out.

Let's pray: Lord let my light shine so much that people will see my good works and glorify you! (Matthew 5) If that brings on persecution, help me not to strike back in the flesh but to pray for those who despitefully yes me! Help me to bless and not curse, knowing that you will make it right!

In Jesus Mighty Name! Amen!