Salvation Summaries

In this post, I will provide observations of Paul’s prayer in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 and use it as an example of how we can pray today. I’ll include a sample prayer at the end.

Paul’s Prayer

 11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12 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 1:11-12

Observations

Technically, this is not a prayer, but shows what Paul prays about when he prays for the Thessalonians. Theses verses could be used as a pastor’s benediction at the end of a church service.

These verses don’t say who Paul prayed to, but it was likely to God the Father rather than Jesus or the Holy Spirit.  Why? Paul references God in 1:3 (“We ought to thank God always for you…”, CSB), 2:11 (“we constantly pray…that God“), and 2:13 (“But we ought to thank God always for you…”, CSB).   Also, from the more than half dozen NT prayers I’ve reviewed thus far (most if not all by Paul), nearly all are to God the Father, so we would be on solid ground if our prayers addressed Him too.

Two issues stood out to me in Paul’s prayer: count worthy and glorify Jesus.  I’ll focus on these and one other issue below.

Worthy

In 2:11, when Paul prays that God may count the Thessalonians worthy, this does not mean that they were unworthy and he wants God to make them worthy, for he already told them in 1:5 that they will be counted worthy.  Rather, Paul prayed that God would keep working in their lives…making them worthy, and he wanted the Thessalonians to do the same (put forth their own effort in cooperation with what God desires). We see Paul say something similar in 2:14-15, where he says “He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught…“, and in 2:16-17, which says, “May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father…encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.”

What does counted worthy mean? Worthy means deserving of.  Counted appears to mean that you are recognized as meeting some standard or requirement.  Thus, counted worthy means you are recognized as deserving of your calling as a Christian, and in this particular instance, it refers to how the Thessalonians lived.

I think it’s important to note that as human sinners, we are not inherently worthy, for only God (the Father) is (Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.“) and Jesus the Son too (Revelation 5:9  And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.).  Also, John the Baptist, the greatest prophet who ever lived, was not even worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals. However, Paul told the Thessalonians that God would count them worthy.  On what basis? On account of their faith (it was flourishing), love for each other (it was increasing), and perseverance (in the midst of persecution and affliction).

I found other verses that elaborate on what it means to live in a worthy manner, which includes:

• Pleasing God in every way. How do we do this? Bear fruit in every good work, and grow in our knowledge of Him (Col 1:10-12).
• Being humble, gentle, patient, bearing with one another in love, living peacefully (Eph 4:1-3);
• Being filled with a knowledge of God’s will (Col 1:10); knowing God’s will and walking accordingly (Col 1:9-12)
• Loving Jesus more than anyone else (Mt 10:37-39)

Isn’t it interesting that what was most important to Paul in the life of a person is not what is most important according to the world today?  Most people seek to be wealthy, athletic, attractive, funny, skinnier (lose weight), happier, younger (if you’re old), etc., but none of these were important to Paul (you don’t find any of these requests in any of his prayers). And if they were not important to him, they really shouldn’t be important to us either, right?  I think we too easily forget that there is no greater honor, no greater privilege, than becoming a Christian, and once we are, we should do everything we can to live as a Christian should. That means living in a way that God will count us worthy and glorifying Jesus, as discussed below.

Glorify

Paul wanted the Thessalonians to live in such a way that God will count them worthy of His Kingdom, but there’s another reason he wanted them to live like this.  What is it?  So that their lives would glorify Jesus.

What does glorify mean? Glorify means to praise God or Jesus, and to give him the honor that is due His name by how you live. We see this in the following verses:

• Psalm 34:3 Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.
• Psalm 69:30 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.
• Psalm 86:12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.
• John 21:19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
• 1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
• Revelation 16:9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.

Fellow Christian, when you wonder how to live your life, do you think about the need to glorify Jesus, who saved you? In my prior post, I mentioned that we needed to aim higher in how we live by trying to be blameless and holy rather than simply being a “good Christian” or “kind to others” or “living according to the golden rule.” Living in a way that glorifies Jesus requires that we aim even higher…

Relates to salvation

The Thessalonians that Paul wrote to were Christians.  We see this in 2:13-14, where Paul implies they are saved based upon their belief in the gospel’s message of salvation and through the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives (when you become a Christian, you receive God’s Holy Spirit). But we also see it in Paul’s acknowledgement that God will count them worthy of God’s Kingdom, and this was on the basis of their growing faith, growing love, and perseverance in a world that disagreed with some of their beliefs.

Fellow believer, if you ever doubt whether you have been or are saved, then examine your life.  If you are growing in your faith, loving others more, and willing to be persecuted on account of your faith, then you can rest assured that God will count you worthy, and that you are saved.

Sample Prayer

Dear God my Father,

You alone are worthy to be praised. You alone determine who is worthy to be counted as part of Your Kingdom. 

Father, I have faith in You and Your Son, and I love others, but help me to grow in my faith, and love others even more. 

I believe in your word, but I have failed to always stand for what is true.  I have been influenced by the world to go along and even accept as true the things that are contrary to your word.  I have fallen victim to believing too many of the lies and deceit that we all hear and read about.  Help me to know what is true.  Help me to study your word and gain wisdom from You.  And give me the courage to suffer persecution on account of Your name. 

Father, I want to know Your will and walk accordingly (Col 1). I want to please You in every way by bearing fruit in every good work, and growing in my knowledge of You (Col 1). 

Help me to be more humble, gentle, and patient with others.  I want to live such a good life among unbelievers that, though they accuse me of doing wrong, they may see the good deeds I do on account of You, and glorify You and Your Son (1 Peter 2:12). 

And help me, Jesus, to love You more than anyone else (Mt 10:37-38). May my thoughts and words and deeds today glorify Your name.  

Amen

Prayer reminders for this week

• That God would count you worthy (of your calling as a Christian) because of your faith, love and perseverance (standing up for Christian beliefs in a world that opposes some of them).

• That your thoughts, words and actions would glorify Jesus, your Lord and Savior.