But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph, as it did among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things which we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:13–3:5 (RSV)
St. Paul loved the congregations he helped found. He had the pride of a loving parent over them. He rejoiced with them as they served their Lord through word and deeds. He was stern with them when it was needed, especially if they were wandering from the Gospel. He did not cease his love for them, giving the Father thanks for believers who treasured the Gospel as did St. Paul.
They loved him in return. It is a miracle of God that anyone would love St. Paul, let alone trust him. St. Paul wanted to destroy the young Church. In those days, he was not above arrest, imprisonment, torture, even murder if it would stamp out the Church. St. Paul carried that burden the rest of his life as believers often fearfully marveled that this Paul had been the violent Saul.
It was that transformation that was so powerful. Once people got beyond who St. Paul had been and could see who he was now, they gave thanks to the Lord. For if God gives so wondrous a love that even the murderous Saul could be made a new creation. Together, they offered their praise to the Lord for grace and mercy that can redeem even the most lost and hopeless person.
We are reminded that the Church has been and is always made up of forgiven sinners. We all have stories of our rebellion against God. We all would be consigned to slavery to sin, and death were it not for our Lord. St. Paul learned that there is no one righteous before God, not one. We, like Paul, now redeemed and new in Christ, give Him our endless praise. We see His Word and promise at work, I ourselves, in others, in all the world.