II Thessalonians 2:15-17
So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.--
Paul only had 3 weeks in Thessalonika to plant a thriving church there, as the Jewish leaders were very contentious. The city is in Macedonia, where God led Paul instead of into Asia. Paul went from there to Berea, where the Jews followed him, and he had to leave there, too.
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself--
Jesus is God's Christ for us and our Lord, who himself loves us and gave himself for us. That is why we are remembering His birth this Christmas: He was born so that He could die for us.
and God our Father--
God is our Father by the New Birth.
who loved us--
He loves us so much that He sacrificed His only Son to redeem us.
and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement--
His grace, the good He gives us that we don't deserve, is very encouraging, lasting forever.
and good hope--
This encouraging Grace gives us hope, the certain knowing of the good future God has planned and prepared for us.
encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.--
Knowing this will give us great encouragement, to make us strong in the good deeds God planned for us to do and say for our benefit and prosperity and God's glory; He gets all the credit for having planned it all out and accomplished it according to His will, in His time and in His ways.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
