2 Thessalonians 1
"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, 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 Thess 1:11-12).
Paul is proud of the Thessalonian believers and the way they have grown in faith and love despite suffering intense persecution. His prayer for them is that their good resolve and work of faith will be fulfilled by God, bringing glory to Jesus, according to grace.
This is my prayer for all the New Zealand believers we have come to know and love over the past seven years. I am proud of the New Zealand church. Their faith is genuine, and their love is sincere. The body of Christ here has helped us and encouraged us in so many ways, and we have learned much from them on what it means to be like Jesus. I came here as a American missionary to New Zealand. Now I return as (almost) a Kiwi missionary to the United States. As we leave, I pray the same prayer for our New Zealand brothers and sisters as Paul prayed for the Thessalonians.
Father, make the believers here in New Zealand, especially the ones we have come to know and love, worthy of your calling. Fulfill their good resolve and work of faith by your power. May the name of Jesus be glorified in them, and they in Jesus. May your grace be powerful among them. Guard them and keep them until we meet again. May they be especially fruitful in terms of character, good works, and multiplying disciples. In Jesus' name, amen.
- Jeff Coleman
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