God wants His people to be thankful. He wants us to see His innumerable perfections and kindnesses and to… enumerate them. Give Him thanks. Show Him gratitude. Appreciate God.

Sometimes we feel alone. Like, no one really knows you. Which means that no one really cares enough to get to know you. This is a deep, heavy, sadness that all of us feel sometimes. We say to ourselves, “You’re all alone in this, pal. No one really knows you. No one really cares.”

It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. (Proverbs 25:2)

Scripture says, and Jesus repeatedly points out, that God is not interested in burnt-meat. But God is after people who know His glory, worship Him, and are transformed into the likeness of His Son. God is after disciples of Jesus, people who will embody, and become, His mercy to others.

What should Christians “ponder”? What should we slowly, patiently, mull-over until we perceive the hidden lesson, the truth within?

John sees and hears many things as his (and our) journey begins. But I want to draw your attention to one detail that I’d overlooked for years of being familiar with this passage: what was before the Throne of God.

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.

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.

Paul prays for Christians to be glorified. He prays for Jesus to be glorified first, of course. And our glory is connected to His glory. But he does actually pray for the congregation at Thessalonica to be glorified!

What is “the Name” of our Lord Jesus? Isn’t it, “Lord Jesus”?
“Name” here means reputation. Or, an accurate understanding of a person’s character and value, which understanding is increasingly communicated to more people.