"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth."
2 Thessalonians 1:3
“We are bound.”
Paul felt a sense of obligation (“we owe it as a debt”[1]) to the Lord, for his brothers and sisters’ personal growth in this church which he planted.
“To thank God always for you, brethren,”
It is an impressive and inspiring thing to watch a child of God grow from a baby to a mature believer. Those who disciple men and women in the faith never tire of seeing God’s child grow. Growth ought to motivate our thanks.
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
“As it is meet,”
In his first letter, Paul prayed for the growth of these believers.
“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you” (1 Thessalonians 3:12).
Now that his prayer had been answered and the Thessalonian Christians were well along in their growth, Paul is right, “as it is meet,” thankful for them.
“Because that your faith groweth exceedingly,”
These believers were now maturing. Their faith has grown much, but it had not been an easy way to grow.
“So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure” (2 Thessalonians 1:4).
Their “patience and faith” in persecution had spurred their growth on.
“And the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth.”
The Thessalonian believers picked up on the need for biblical love early on. They were a loving group of Christians.
“But as touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you: for ye, yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10).
Even though they were quick to love each other, Paul admonished them to keep growing in love, “more and more.” Evidently, according to our verse for today, they have done so.
Dear Lord, I thank you for helping me to grow in faith and love.
[1] Jamison, Fausset, and Brown. Jamison-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.