To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power,
2 Thessalonians 1:11 ESV
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy were always praying that God would make the people at the church of Thessalonica worthy of his calling. They were always praying this together for these followers of Christ. I don’t know how often I actually pray that for myself, let alone my fellow believers. A continual prayer to make me worthy of God’s calling seems daunting to be honest.
To be made worthy of God’s calling is truly the right prayer that I should be praying for myself and others, but I know that this prayer will lead down the path of humility. A path filled with struggle and trials and adversity and pain and suffering. This path is a difficult one. My heart wants the path of ease and comfort. It wants a path that leads through a lush garden filled with fresh fruit and pristine water. But the path to make me worthy of God’s calling will have to lead me through the wilderness.
Just like the Israelites leaving Egypt, I too need the desert wandering to humble me. I need the desert to reveal sin in me. I need God to teach me repentance. To turn from the siren call of the world and my flesh and embrace Christ. I need the desert wandering to rid myself of pride and arrogance. To bring into the light of Christ any and all idols that I am holding onto. I need to bring all of this before the Lord and lay bare before him in repentance and humbleness.
And my God will forgive through Christ. My God will cleanse me from this stain of sin and set me right. My God will make me worthy of his calling. He will work in my life for his good and his glory. Making me worthy of his calling necessarily means that Christ is glorified and exalted. That my life becomes a vessel to display the beauty of Christ and all that he has done for us. All the trials and struggles are there to prepare me as a worthy image bearer of Christ.
Why? “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 ESV)
Journal Entry // September 29, 2021