My dear friend Jennifer Slattery asked me to discuss 2 Thessalonians 1:11 which she wrote about on her blog at:
“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.” 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NIV)
“With this in mind” with what in mind? Verse 7 tells us the Lord Jesus will come from heaven in blazing fire with His powerful angels to punish those who do not obey the gospel and to be marveled at by those who believe. With that truth in mind, Paul is constantly praying for the believers.
First he prays that the believers may be found worthy of their calling. We know based on all the teaching of salvation that this does not mean whether or not we are worthy of salvation. We are saved by the grace of God, it is not possible to earn it or deserve it but how we live our life may or may not bring Him glory. Do I seek to live worthy of Him? Do I seek to live in a way that brings Him glory? Do I want to see Him returning in the sky with His angels knowing that I have wasted my time and lived for myself? I pray that when I see Him, I will know that I gave my best effort to live for Him.
Paul then prays, “by his power” not by our power. God is the one who gives us power to live for Him and He is the only one who can truly bring forth fruit. So by His power, Paul prays that God will bring fruit in our lives and fulfill “every desire for goodness” and “every deed prompted by faith.” That is so reassuring! I do desire goodness in my life but I can’t achieve it in my strength. I would love to know someone is praying for me that my every desire for goodness would be brought to fruition. Also, how wonderful to know that every deed I do prompted by faith (not by self-promotion or by striving for recognition) will bring forth fruit because of Him working in me.
Thanks Jennifer, please check out Jennifer’s website and her debut novel:
Soaring with Butterfly Wings 