"That the Name of Jesus Be Glorified"

What is our purpose here?

2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 NIV84

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this 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.

Paul has been speaking of the return of Jesus Christ, the final judgment and His being glorified in His people at that time. He does this to encourage them while enduring persecution. Having assured them that those who are troubling them will receive their just punishment Paul now reminds them of their calling and their reward. It is with that in mind that he prays.

Paul’s prayer

It is significant that in so many of Paul’s letters he prays for the church. God has chosen to work through His people, and prayer is a major part of that work. Paul’s prayer reflects not only his desire for the church but God’s desire, and for us as well.

Count you worthy = consider you worthy. “Worthy” doesn’t mean deserving or meritorious. It means fitting, proper, appropriate.

Pleasing Him in response to His love for us. Our lives are now supposed to show God and other people that we are followers of Jesus Christ as we strive to live up to His name. It’s our way of saying ‘thank you’ to God.

Ephesians 4:1 NIV84

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

The fact that Paul urges Christians to live a life worthy indicates that we have a role to play in this. It is not going to happen without effort on our part, even though the power to do it comes from God as Paul will indicate here as well. We are considered worthy when our lives fulfill the purpose of our calling.

In the end, however, it is God Himself who makes us worthy. This begins with His calling us to be His people.

God’s calling

God’s calling comes to us through the hearing of God’s word and by the work of the Holy Spirit opening our minds to understand and our hearts to receive it.

His calling – the privilege of participating in God’s kingdom

Called us to be His people

Called us to live holy lives - the life God wants them to live

Called us to salvation -

1 Thessalonians 2:12 NIV84

encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

When God calls us we are not worthy, but we are not to remain the way we were. When we become disciples of Jesus the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us and begins to transform our lives to become more like Christ’s. This is the power Paul talks about. When you stand before the throne, either at His coming or your going, wouldn’t you want to be considered worthy?

God’s purpose for us

God’s making us worthy has two parts that necessarily go together:

He gives us the desire to do good -

Fulfill every good purpose – all your desires for goodness, i.e. to do good, which will be God’s desires

He gives us the power to do good -

Every act prompted by faith – all your works of faith. True faith will always produce good works.

Philippians 2:13 NIV84

for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Colossians 1:10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Ephesians 2:10 NIV84

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

All of this will be fulfilled by His power – not human effort.

This is because of God’s grace – not because we deserve it. It is a gift od God.

God’s purpose for Himself

Jesus’ name glorified in us – cause Jesus to be honored. God’s glory also refers to His presence.

This is our reason for being, the reason God created us. This is what gives meaning to our lives. We are live in order to bring glory to the name of Jesus Christ. This means, causing people to honor Him.

Not only that, but when Christ does return His glory, His presence, will be fully revealed in believers.

We will also receive glory

When we bring glory to God we will share in that glory at Christ’s second coming. The work of being made like Christ will then be complete.

Since we know that one day we will all stand before the throne of God and our lives will be judged, let us seek to bring glory to God now so that we shall be glorified then. May we also be constantly praying for the church, that we be strengthened with God’s power, filled with the Holy Spirit, in order to know and do His will, to the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Is our desire to honor Christ? Do our lives bring glory to His name?