Waiting

 

A series on Pauls’ prayers
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 

[Paul was a controversial figure in the first century church. But it could also be argued that he was the most dynamic and influential apostle. In this series we’ll be looking at Paul’s prayers and what he has to say to us today.]

There’s a stop light in Columbus at the corner of Case Road and Riverside Drive. If you’re on Riverside Drive and get a red light, the wait isn’t bad. But if you’re on Case Road and get a red light, you might as well take a nap.

 

Waiting is not easy! When I’m ready to check out at the grocery store, I'll walk back and forth looking at all of the lanes to see which one looks like it will be the fastest. Invariably, I choose the wrong one. Waiting goes against our human nature because we want what we want when we want it. In other words, we want to be in control.

 

When Paul founded the Thessalonian church, the initial response was tremendous. Converts included “some Jews who believed”, plus “a large number of Greeks and quite a few prominent women”.

 

Unfortunately, the Jewish leaders were jealous. Because of this, they stirred up some troublemakers, started a riot and accused Paul of treason against Caesar. It became so threatening that Paul had to flee the city that night.

 

Although the Thessalonian church was well established, the riot had created so much animosity towards them that it resulted in continual persecution. Therefore, here’s what Paul prayed for the believers.

 

¹¹ So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.  NLT

 

This begs the question of what does it take to “live a life worthy of his call”?

 

There’s some insight into the answer to this question that can be found from these words of encouragement that Paul wrote to the Thessalonians.

 

³ We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. ⁴ Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.     NIV

⁵ And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.               NLT

 

Paul confirmed that God was at work in their lives through their hardships. That God was making them “worthy of his Kingdom”. In other words, “worthy of his call”.

 

The problem with this is that it requires patience, which means waiting. It’s one thing to wait at a long stop light or a long line. But waiting for God to stop the persecution; or change an old habit; or change a loved one who is addicted; or get a new job; or heal an illness. These are in a whole different ballpark.

 

Yet, the benefits of waiting are incalculable. John Ortberg, an author, speaker and a former senior pastor, had this to say about waiting.

 

“Biblically, waiting is not just something we have to do until we get what we want. Waiting is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be.”

Pray and wait. If there’s a secret to being “worthy of his call”, that’s it.

 

Copyright 2024 Joseph B Williams

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