There are two groups of people in this text. There are the persecuted children of God who will be rewarded with eternal peace and rest in the glorious presence of God. Then, there are the people who oppose God’s people and reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ; this group will be eternally judged. I want to be on the right side of this equation.
In the world, there will be tribulation, and the enemy will try to use it to divide us. But thank God, Jesus has overcome the world (Jn 16:33). If we lock hands and hearts in faith, we can stand stronger together than we can standing alone. Through their love for one another, the church in Thessalonica was able to overcome, and their faith continued to grow. We are always better together.
When we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are engaged in a supernatural act. Neither the message nor the power is our own, and the outcome is not dependent upon our elocution or rhetorical skills. When we open our mouths “to tell the old, old story, of Jesus and His love,” the Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses (Ac 1:8). So, we can be sure that God’s word will accomplish what God has purposed, it will not return void (Is 55:11).
