Therefore we also 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,

II Thessalonians 1:11

When the apostle Paul speaks of power here in verse eleven he is not talking about the supernatural miracles of the Lord’s earthly ministry. Paul isn’t saying that these new believers were going around healing people by the hundreds and changing water into wine. Not at all. The power Paul is referring to here is the power of the gospel of grace that transformed the hearts of these pagan, idol-worshiping Thessalonians.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Romans 1:16

The awesome power of the gospel was on full display in that these new believers could turn their backs on their idolatry and worship of the gods and goddesses and place their faith alone in the finished work of the cross.

They most likely lost friends, were separated from family and lost income because they put their trust in Christ alone. These new believers almost immediately had nothing to do with pagan rituals and sacrifices, nothing to do with the gross immorality that came with pagan worship. All by the power of the gospel and the heart transforming One True God who now indwells them (Romans 5:5).

So it was faith with power manifested in the lives of these new believers. Now verse twelve.

II Thessalonians 1:12

that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Thessalonian believers did not deserve God’s grace any more than you or I do, but it was the Grace of God that was poured out on these pagan Thessalonians in that they became believers, ‘a new creation’ (2 Corinthians 5:17) and were a tremendous witness and testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ (as Paul made clear in the previous verses 2 Thessalonians 1;3-5).

That same amazing grace of God poured out on the Thessalonian believers has been poured out on us. And we too must stand firm placing our trust in God no matter what adversity or persecution we may or may not face. Living our lives according to His will by placing our faith in Christ and looking to Christ alone to supply all our needs.