2 Thess. 1:11,12. Fifth Prayer

" Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power: that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
This church was in the highest standing; therefore we find a deeper order of truth in this prayer, and a closer application. " We are bound to thank God always for you-your faith groweth exceedingly-charity aboundeth," etc. Paul entreats for the Colossians, that they might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, giving thanks for the love manifested by them; but here he asks, that " God would count them worthy of this calling." How? By putting suffering on them-such honor!
They had received the word in much affliction at the first (1 Thess. 1:6), and now Paul says, " we glory in you in the churches of God," for your patience in " persecution (4, 5) and tribulation that ye endure," " counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer." Like old John Bradford, thanking God at the stake for the honor of suffering for Him.
The Thessalonians were " in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ"; then note their conduct, " faith groweth exceedingly," and charity aboundeth, patience in persecution, thus " counted worthy" to suffer (see 1-5). But, alas! how little our hearts estimate this honor.
The Galatians and Hebrews were not fit for this; but the Thessalonians had evidenced a true testimony (ver. 10); and in the second chapter, Paul can say, " we are bound to give thanks always to God for you. Therefore they were to rejoice that they were counted worthy of this calling, knowing that " the Lord is faithful to stablish and keep" them.
Paul desires that they may not only be counted worthy to suffer, but "fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power" (ver. 11). That is the power of faith in endurance; "the good pleasure of his goodness," that the name of the Lord may be glorified; your sufferings to minister to His glory! Marvelous place to put the creature in! "Ye in Him."
Works failed to glorify Him in creation (see Rom. 1), so that the only way God gets glory is in the walk, and ways, and sufferings of His people I
E.F.