Be Good!

2 Thessalonians 1:12 - Be Good!

As I was looking back over the blog from last week, I took another look at this verse. Something occurred to me. Maybe it was God speaking, or maybe I just couldn’t leave this thought incomplete. The word motivation came to mind. Purpose. The question that is answered in v. 12 is simply this: why are we to do this? Why are we to do the work of faith in power? Why are we to fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness? Well, the obvious answers are there based on what I wrote last week. We need to lead lost people to the saving knowledge of Jesus. We do that because we are commanded to do so and because our love for God and others compels us to do so. Our hearts break over the lostness of a single individual because we know their eternal destiny is hell. However, there is another reason. Reaching people makes the world a better place. If Christians act like Christians and reach more people who act like Christians then we will live in a Christian society that is characterized by the fruit of the Spirit Paul writes about in Galatians 5. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Wouldn’t that be nice? But what if I were to tell you that there is an even more practical reason to do the work of faith in power? There is one, you know. You see, if we don’t do this, then we will suffer the consequences of God’s wrath when it is poured out on the world. Call it collateral damage or just the consequences of living in a sin-filled world, we will be affected by His wrath.

Look at what Paul writes. He paints a very different picture as to why we are to do this. We are to fulfill the good pleasure of His goodness so that “the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified” in us. Here it is in a nutshell: we are supposed to make Jesus look good. When people witness us living the Christian life, they should say, “Wow! Jesus sure is powerful! Look at the difference He made in Ben Hayes!” When we are what we are supposed to be and do what we are supposed to do and live like we are supposed to live, Jesus will receive the glory. But when we don’t do what we are supposed to do and live like we are supposed to live then the world questions the power of our risen Lord.

It’s like the disciples trying to help the man with the demon-possessed son. When they couldn’t help him, the father began to question Jesus’ ability. Of course, Jesus was more than able. He set the boy free, and He set the disciples straight (Mt. 17:14-21). Our power comes through Him, and we can only access it through constant prayer and fasting. We must practice the spiritual disciplines that Jesus modeled for us in the gospels. When we do so, we will know His power and we will live a life that glorifies Him.