“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
The Christians of Thessalonica were growing in grace and in love, but bad theology was holding them back. It was bad eschatology, wrong views of the end times. Many thought that the Day of the Lord had already passed, and that may have led to idleness among Christians.
Paul, in our context, is encouraging them to stand firm, to grow in grace. and in service, and to have hope for the future. What Paul says to minister grace to fellow believers can equally be said of the Lord’s Supper.
What is the basis of this hope for the future?
God the Father and God the Son have loved us. The Love of God is always on display among the people of God. We have been loved from before the foundation of the earth. Jesus has given us the full and final demonstration of his love on the cross. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
I love the personal pronouns in the text. Our Lord Jesus Christ, God our Father. Jesus and God are not distant abstract concerts, they are personal realities, they are family. They belong to us.
And they have given us eternal comfort and good hope. I have needed comfort from others in the past and received it. But it soon fades. But here is eternal comfort, a good hope that need not diminish. It comes to us by grace, unmerited favor. It is the self-generated love of God that will never change.
That love now comforts us, and establishes us – strengthens us in every good work and word. We can speak and do good. Grace relieves, comforts, accepts, and motivates. His love transforms us from sinners to saints, from idle to active, from forlorn to hope-filled. From sad to eternally happy.
How does this happen? By revisiting the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord at the Communion table. This unshakable love of God fully demonstrated on the cross, fills us with joy and peace in believing.
If that is your hope, come to the table. If you have no faith, no love from God or for God, do not come to this table. Instead, Come to Christ, by faith and repentance.
Prayer
We ask, O Lord our God, that others would know, that all would know, the blessings of this table. That they would know Christ and the power of his resurrection. May even your people be renewed in the marvelous love of God in Christ Jesus. Speak to us through this meal. Speak peace and hope to us. Comfort our hearts and strengthen us in every good word and work. We ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Remember this as we come to the table together.
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us – for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” – so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles.” Galatians 3:13-14
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Come for all things are now ready.