2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
“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, 12 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.”
This lesson is about being ‘glorified’. This is an ecclesiastical word and many may use the word so repeatedly that the meaning is lost. Therefore, before getting too far into this lesson, which is a prayer from Paul for the Thessalonians, we need to do a word study on what it means to “glorify.” Our dictionary says that when we ‘glorify’ someone, we come to worship and praise. The synonyms are worship, praise, honor, adore, exalt, revere, and bless. These are all the words we have heard in church before. The word “be glorified” in 2 Thessalonians 1:12 can also be translated as “to honor”. Matthew Henry elaborates on this teaching by saying, “Our own happiness and that of others should be subordinate to this ultimate end. Our good works should so shine before men that others may glorify God, that Christ may be glorified in and by us, and then we shall be glorified in and with him.” As one can easily see, if we substitute the word “honor”, “worship”, or “praise” for the word “glorify”, we get a beautiful expression with a dynamic equivalent on what the text in the Bible is really trying to convey.
The context of this passage in verse 1:12 declares a twofold message on who is glorified and who receives the glory. First, the name of Jesus Christ should always be gloried, worshiped, and praised in and through us. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” O, how this message should be firmly established in every little child and young teenager before leaving home. So many parents, myself included, cry for our children who are in rebellion against God; and we say our prayers from Scripture according to Proverbs 22:6, which says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Yet, as parents, we must recognize our responsibility and repent if we did not faithfully glorify the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in us in everything we did and said. Additionally, not only is the name of Jesus Christ glorified in us but according to this text, we also are gloried in Christ. Think of the full moon on a star-lit night. The moon is not like the sun or star which radiates its own light from the exploding energy of gases inside. Rather, the moon’s light is only a reflective light from the Sun. In the same way, we as children of God, are to spend our time with Him so we may radiate the light of Christ. That is our glory, becoming like Christ and being conformed to his image. John Calvin expresses this reflective glory of Christ to the believers when he says, “those who have advanced the glory of Christ will also in their turn be glorified in him. For in this, first of all, the wonderful goodness of God shines forth — that he will have his glory be conspicuous in us who are covered over with ignominy.”
In application, I love the love story between the bride and the beloved in the Song of Solomon. The church has always interpreted this to be a picture of Christ and his bride, which is the church. In Chapter two, the bride expresses her love, adoration, and yes, her worship, of her beloved. She says in Song of Solomon 2:16a, “My beloved is mine, and I am his.” In the same way, the beloved bestows on his bride his love and honor in Song of Solomon 4:7, “You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.” O, the engrossed affection they have for each other as they are ravished in love in the highest esteem. We as Christians must heed the warnings of Scripture which tells us to examine ourselves, prove or test ourselves, and see if we are in the faith. We are to work out our salvation in fear and trembling. O, the tragedy when our desires for worshipping God do not exist. Worship and glorifying God in Jesus Christ must permeate throughout our whole being, every day, and every moment that we possibly can. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
This is a worthy prayer for the Thessalonians who are suffering from persecution. And in light of the coming judgment of God upon all the wicked who brutally persecute and decimate God’s children, Paul tells them that is it God who is making them worthy for that day. He said in Philippians 1:6, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ will do this work that He began when He saved us. He will also keep and present His bride to be a chaste and pure bride. Christ will do what He promises. And only in Him, are we worthy of this calling: to be resolved for good and every work by faith. Our sovereign Lord God plans and purposed this before the foundations of the world, so we can be holy and blameless before Him (Ephesians 1:4).
It is very important that we keep a very close grip on our faith journey as we progress in our sanctification. Especially when it comes to repentance. Yes, I have failed many times every day! I am ashamed that I tread upon the blood of Christ which He presented to atone for my sin. O, the filth that plagues my soul. O, the harm that I have done to the body of Christ, the church of the living God. O, the fear I have because I am inept to serve Him, the one for died for me. All I can do is glory in the cross of Calvary! Forgive me Lord God of all my unrighteousness and please, may others glorify Christ in me…
Christian Hymn: ‘Let Others See Jesus in You by B. B. McKinney in 1924
