“You also have suffered similar things …” (2 v.14)
While it is absolutely true that God always loves and cares for us, it is also equally true that believers will face conflict in some form, at one time or another. The initial reception of the gospel in Thessalonica was accompanied by affliction (1:6). Paul speaks of suffering in 2:14, being persecuted in 2:15 and how Satan had hindered them in 2:18. Christians have an adversary; his name is Satan. Any true turning to God will always stir up his anger. It will take different forms and will be of different degrees of intensity for different people. Christians may be mocked, ostracised, opposed, resisted, or even openly persecuted. One thing is certain – there is no opposition that can rob believers of their crown, nor of their joy. There are countless examples down through the ages where joy has triumphed in the presence of much joy and pain. Paul warns them, and us, of trouble, but this trouble cannot take away our glory and our joy.
PRAYER :- “Lord, thank you that the joy You give is greater than the sum of all affliction.”