The apostle Paul writes to a community of faith that suffers persecution due to their Christian beliefs and practices. Paul expresses gratitude for this community and encourages them to keep the faith. The passage concludes with a prayer for the community. It asks God to strengthen their hearts in holiness that they may be blameless before God at the coming of our Lord Jesus, a reference to the second coming of Christ.
Though young in the faith, this community is distressed and persecuted (verse 7), perhaps provoking Paul’s letter of gratitude and encouragement. While they and we acknowledge God’s steadfast love and mercy offered to all without requirement or qualification, we also acknowledge the fact that relationship with God does not exempt individuals and communities from persecution and distress.
All Christians (and non-Christians for that matter) will experience persecution and distress in various forms at some point. Some argue Christians may be more susceptible, much like Job in the Old Testament who was God’s “favorite.” However, persecution and distress is not punishment; it is simply an aspect of the times in which we live: after Creation and the Fall but before Jesus Christ’s second coming. The more hopeful news is that in the midst of persecution and distress or joy and celebration, God never leaves us and continues to offer steadfast love, mercy, strength, peace, and hope.
Reflect upon times of persecution and/or distress in your life or the life of your faith community. What was the nature of the difficulty? How did you sense God’s presence and love in the midst of those times?