2 Thessalonians 1:3
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; 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;
It is fitting and right to thank God always and continually for fellow believers, especially when they are doing well spiritually. Such continual thanksgiving is not occasional but bounden duty when faith and love are seen to flourish.
The cause for this thanksgiving is that faith can grow and did grow greatly, even exceedingly, and that charity — which is love — abounded from every single believer toward one another. The Thessalonians were commended because each one showed this increasing love to the others. Their shared persecution and tribulations drew them together in mutual care and concern. In all they endured they showed patience and faith.
Such growing faith with patience under persecution and tribulation gives cause to glory in them in the churches of God. Their endurance is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that they may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God for which they suffer. The words of grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, and of growing faith and abounding love, should sink deep into every heart. They are to be studied together with the whole fifth chapter of 1 Thessalonians, which is to be read and heeded and carried into practice, while the entire first chapter of 2 Thessalonians is a lesson of greatest importance.
Their example shows that Christians are to keep growing in grace and in the knowledge of Christ, becoming stronger and bearing more fruit. They should aspire to the highest Christian principles and examine whether their lives show increasing likeness to Christ. Growth in faith and love for God urges courage in the Lord, for walking with Jesus brings His presence. Such growing faith and love brings conversion of souls and a visible working of the Holy Spirit among fellow laborers. When unbelief enters the churches and opposition comes, the call is to keep the mind stayed upon the Lord and to gird on His armor. Then there is to be no discouragement, but resting of the whole matter with God when the way is unclear, and encouraging in the heart the faith that works by love and purifies the soul.