II Thessalonians 1: Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I’m not sure wantable is in the dictionary, but to be wanted is a blessed feeling. It would be awful not to be wanted by family and friends or co-workers. People can be cruel. Sometimes we can be cruel. We need to pray that we can be a wantable person. I’ve not listened to much of the politics going on but I’m tired of it. It’s scary what’s going on. The most important one to seek to want us is God. Regardless of how hard society makes it on us individually and as a church, don’t worry.
When you ask the average person about church and the Bible you don’t get good words. We need God and need a church that God is not ashamed to be identified with. The worst thing we can be is the excuse people use not to come to church. We need to be the reason they want to come. People will use any excuse, so let’s not be a real excuse for someone.
Thessalonica wasn’t the only church enduring tribulation. By and through their patience and not giving up they remained faithful. God knows you can endure it. If other churches survived it, they could too. You can too. People are strengthened seeing others endure troubles. They realize that if Jesus can get you through he can get them through as well. It is through these trying times of hurt and suffering that we hold fast by faith and love our brother anyway that we show others that Jesus never fails. Don’t be a church of critics, quitters, or complainers who are restless and ready to give up.
If the world doesn’t want us, if our family doesn’t want us because we’re children of God, just be wantable by God. When they need someone to talk to guess who they’ll go to? You. Remember others are enduring afflictions too. Rest with the brothers and sisters of God. Soon the Lord will be revealed and take us out of here. Then he’ll take judgment on all those who refused to want him. Hang in there and seek to be desirable to God. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
When my last breath is breathed I want to look back and know I’ve given God the glory. Ask yourself these questions. What does God want from me? What does God want from me to make the church what it should be?
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 