2 Thessalonians 1: 3-9 Thanksgiving for faith & perseverance

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.

God told Abraham that whoever blesses Abraham or his seed would be blessed, but whoever curses them would be cursed. This is part of the Abrahamic Covenant. Now the Apostle Paul tells the church who are Abrahams spiritual seed in faith that God will indeed bless them for receiving the Son, but whoever hinders them or their faith will receive the curse of God. This is out of God's righteousness that He must be just. In other words, there is a heaven and hell, so we ought to come to the Son in fear and trembling, but also in thankfulness of his willingness to help us escape the wrath of God if we come to God through the Son.

Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, I give daily thanksgiving for the honor of my identification with you. I realize that it is all about you and not about me, but I depend upon you as a child does for his mother, knowing your love is sufficient for me. In Your name I pray Amen.