To this end we always pray for you…
According to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
(2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 contains three key prayer requests: 1) that God may make us worthy of His calling; 2) that God may fulfill every one of our resolves for good; and 3) that God may fulfill every one of our works of faith.
It is clear, and emphasized, that these are prayers. That is, they are things we need God to do first, before we get involved. This point is doubly emphasized in v. 11: "that our God may... by His power." But in case we didn't get this from the fact this is a prayer, or from the repeated statement that this is something God is doing, notice how Paul closes this prayer: "according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
"We always pray... that our God may... by His power... according to the grace of our God..." Do we get the picture?
Everything in the Christian life is a Gift.
When we begin to live more in step with our Christian identity—when we “walk worthy”—this comes about by grace; it’s a gift.
When we grow in sanctification, becoming more useful, growing more mature, it’s grace; it’s a gift.
When we grow wise and faithful, and we endure and persist in patient hope, this is grace; it’s a gift.
When we begin to dream holy dreams, to cry in our heart for God to use us, that all is grace; it’s a gift.
When we resolve to do good and put our whole selves into worthy projects for the glory of Christ, that resolve is grace; it’s a gift.
When we work for Jesus, in obedience, walking with the Spirit, in love, in ministry and service, in building up the church, in proclaiming the Gospel message, in feeding the hungry, caring for the orphans and widows, in using our gifts to make our local church body thrive, it’s all—each and every one—grace; it’s all a gift.
And when we see that Jesus is glorified, and the lost come to be found by Him, and the sinners forgiven by Him, and the saints strengthened through Him, as a result of our prayers and plans and works, it too is all grace; it’s a gift.
When we find ourselves lifted up, honored, praised, applauded, appreciated by those we love and have worked to bless, it is all grace; it’s a gift.
Everything in the Christian life—from before we’re aware of it, to while we’re aware of it, to when it’s done—is grace. That’s a lot of grace!
We've needed a lot of grace.
We need a lot of grace.
We’re going to need a lot of grace.
Grace comes from our God and from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Here’s a tricky spot, but hang with me because it pays off. So, you know how our God is One-God, but in Three Persons? We only serve one God, but that one God is three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Normally we talk about “the grace of God.” That’s good; we should. But notice Paul says that all that we’ve been praying for comes from the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (See also Hebrews 10:29, “the Spirit of grace.”)
Now, this is a different kind of vision, isn’t it? It’s not just grace coming from “God.” It’s grace coming to you, firstly, from your Heavenly Father. And then it’s grace coming to you from your Lord, Jesus Christ. And too there’s grace coming to you from the Holy Spirit.
Three sources of God’s grace poured out on us from God.
The Father gives us perfect Fatherly blessings. And Christ gives us abundant Kingly blessings. And the Spirit pours out wonderful spiritual blessings.
The Three Persons of the Triune God each pour out graces in accordance with who they are. And of course they are God, but they are also Father, Son, and Spirit. And this distinction is what Paul has in mind when he names “our God” and “the Lord Jesus Christ” as two distinct sources of grace!
That’s a lot of grace! We have a lot of grace!
For this prayer to be answered, we’re going to need a lot of grace. If everything in our Christian lives is healed, made whole, made holy, and is energized and grows by grace, then we’re going to need a lot of grace.
And so we have a lot-a lot of grace. Grace from our Heavenly Father. Grace from His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace from the Spirit of God, the Spirit of our Lord.
(What’s infinity multiplied by three?)
So while this prayer seems too big, too wonderful, too difficult, we see that, well, it isn’t.
We have what we need for what the gracious Spirit of God is drawing us into, for what Christ is leading us on in, and what the Father is calling us toward. We have a lot of grace.
So let's pray, as much and as big, with as many people, as we can. God has enough grace to answer all prayers: in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Photo by Kurt Cotoaga on Unsplash
