St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

Be strong, worth and pure

In the new "red season" between All Saints and Advent we are looking at St Paul's second letter to the Christians at Thessalonica (now called Saloniki in Greece). It was one of the key churches which St Paul founded on his second missionary journey (Acts 17), but trouble from the Jews forced him to leave before he really wanted.

So when he'd arrived in Corinth he sat down and wrote them a letter to keep them on the straight and narrow, as they were sure to face persecution just as he had done. "Don't think the gospel message has failed because life is tough. The Jews persecuted Jesus and they'll persecute his followers as well. But keep on in your faith, and you'll find that God will strengthen you and keep you blameless and holy. Jesus is coming soon!" (1 Thess 2:1, 2:14, 3:13 and 4:16) was his message.

They did face the persecution, and some of them deduced that Jesus would come again very soon, so Paul had to write them another letter: "Hang about - I didn't mean Jesus was coming instantly! Make sure you don't jump the gun, and make sure you don't forget what is supposed to be the heart of the gospel message. Don't forget to be strong, worthy and pure as you wait for Jesus to come again."

So here we are, nearly 2000 years later, and Jesus still hasn't come. And many of us face difficulties in our faith. We get mockery and laughs from others when we keep on with following Jesus. We get setbacks in our family lives and in our health. It can feel like the world is out to get us. Should we give up on Christianity?

"Not on your life!" says Paul. "God will strengthen and protect us from the evil one, so stand firm" (2 Thess 3:3).

Red is for blood and fire - injury and the Holy Spirit. In some places there is martyrdom for following Jesus, and in all places there is some opposition from others. But God has sent his Holy Spirit. This "red season" at the end of the green is to remind us that following Jesus is not easy, and we all need the Holy Spirit's help until that day when Jesus comes again in power and sorts it all out.

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. November 2004, Page 4.
Home Page. Index of articles: by subject, by date. In this issue: (November 2004) Lay ministry, 2 Thessalonians, Question. Other articles on the bible.	Be strong, worth and pure In the new "red season" between All Saints and Advent we are looking at St Paul's second letter to the Christians at Thessalonica (now called Saloniki in Greece). It was one of the key churches which St Paul founded on his second missionary journey (Acts 17), but trouble from the Jews forced him to leave before he really wanted. So when he'd arrived in Corinth he sat down and wrote them a letter to keep them on the straight and narrow, as they were sure to face persecution just as he had done. "Don't think the gospel message has failed because life is tough. The Jews persecuted Jesus and they'll persecute his followers as well. But keep on in your faith, and you'll find that God will strengthen you and keep you blameless and holy. Jesus is coming soon!" (1 Thess 2:1, 2:14, 3:13 and 4:16) was his message. They did face the persecution, and some of them deduced that Jesus would come again very soon, so Paul had to write them another letter: "Hang about - I didn't mean Jesus was coming instantly! Make sure you don't jump the gun, and make sure you don't forget what is supposed to be the heart of the gospel message. Don't forget to be strong, worthy and pure as you wait for Jesus to come again." So here we are, nearly 2000 years later, and Jesus still hasn't come. And many of us face difficulties in our faith. We get mockery and laughs from others when we keep on with following Jesus. We get setbacks in our family lives and in our health. It can feel like the world is out to get us. Should we give up on Christianity? "Not on your life!" says Paul. "God will strengthen and protect us from the evil one, so stand firm" (2 Thess 3:3). Red is for blood and fire - injury and the Holy Spirit. In some places there is martyrdom for following Jesus, and in all places there is some opposition from others. But God has sent his Holy Spirit. This "red season" at the end of the green is to remind us that following Jesus is not easy, and we all need the Holy Spirit's help until that day when Jesus comes again in power and sorts it all out. John Hartley
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