“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (2Thess.2:16–17).
Lord Jesus, by your reckoning, there are two things we can’t get too much of all the way Home—encouragement and hope. And the best news is, you and Abba are tenaciously committed to giving us both of these graces all the way Home.
Our first major “installment” of encouragement and hope came when you saved us, Jesus—when you raised us to newness of life in yourself. You gave us a new heart and your perfect righteousness, the assurance of our salvation and heavenly citizenship, a place in God’s family and a place in your Story—and that’s just 6 of uncountable grace riches.
So how does our eternal encouragement become fresh and daily encouragement? How does the good and sure hope of heaven become functional and powerful hope for today? As so clearly revealed in these two verses—it’s through intentional fellowship with you and Abba (1Jn.1:3). There is no substitute for time and heart investment in walking with you, Jesus—contemplating your truth, goodness, and beauty (2Cor.3:18)—surrendering our thought-life to you, and the heart-enflaming wonder of the Gospel (2Cor.10:5; Rom.12:1-2; Phil.4:8). Help us. Free us, Lord.
For you intend to give us the same kind of glorious “heartburn” you gave those you walked with just after your resurrection. We usually read these words with envy, help us pray them with anticipation, Jesus: “Weren’t our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Lk.24:32). Through the Word, by your Spirit—grant us the same Jesus, that we might live and love to your glory. So Very Amen.