originally published 9/22/19
“We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians. 1:12
Paul had just given a report of what he boldly prayed for the Thessalonians. From his prayer, we can learn how we, too, can pray boldly for ourselves and each other. His prayer may at first seem to be placing too much on God and not enough on ourselves (if we are inclined to prideful thinking), but that is what makes it a bold prayer. And it is what fills us with hope as we learn to pray this ourselves.
Paul’s prayer can be broken down into three phrases: make them worthy of Your calling, bring to fruition every desire for goodness they have, and bring to fruition every deed prompted by their faith (2 Thessalonians. 1:11). On whom does Paul place the heavy lifting in this prayer? Notice, it is God who “makes” and who “brings to fruition.” What a humble way for us to pray! This prayer is devoid of the human pride that thinks we are able to accomplish anything meaningful ourselves. Paul teaches us through this prayer that it is good and right for us to pray such God-centered, human-humbling prayers.
And what is the outcome of this kind of praying? Paul tells us in the next verse which I quoted above. The name of Jesus will be glorified in us, and we will be glorified in Jesus. When we bring our desire for holy living to God and learn to pray that He would make it happen in us, that kind of humble faith opens the way for Him to act powerfully in our lives; and Jesus’ name will be glorified through our lives as He brings to fruition all of the good things our faith prompts us to do. And equally important, we are glorified by becoming more like Him as we trust in His ability to make us worthy.
What a blessing to lay down the weight of having to do this ourselves! This is biblical humility!