建立正确的观念
帖撒罗尼迦后书一章5至12节
5这正是神公义判断的明证，叫你们可算配得神的国，你们就是为这国受苦。
6神既是公义的，就必将患难报应那加患难给你们的人；
7也必使你们这受患难的人与我们同得平安。那时，主耶稣同他有能力的天使从天上在火燄中显现，
8要报应那不认识神和那不听从我主耶稣福音的人。
9他们要受刑罚，就是永远沉沦，离开主的面和他权能的荣光。
10这正是主降临，要在他圣徒的身上得荣耀，又在一切信的人身上显为希奇的那日子。（我们对你们作的见证，你们也信了。）
11因此，我们常为你们祷告，愿我们的神看你们配得过所蒙的召，又用大能成就你们一切所羡慕的良善和一切因信心所做的工夫；
12叫我们主耶稣的名在你们身上得荣耀，你们也在他身上得荣耀，都照着我们的神并主耶稣基督的恩。
信息分享
他们其中一点不明白的，就是神为何不惩罚那些逼迫他们的人。保罗的答案直截了当：神必会惩罚他们，而且，当基督再来的时候就必施行审判。这是基督再来的另一面信息。保罗对他们说：「稍安无躁，神必用祂的方式去审判他们。」
在基督再来的时候，与祂一同出现的众天使，将会带着权能和刑罚来到。那些敌挡神的人，当然不会被迎接到神的面前，反之，却要与神永远隔绝。
保罗没有再仔细描述未得救者的可悲结局。他迅速转移另一个角度，指出基督再来对信徒来说是何等奇妙，以及神在此刻的心意（10-11）。无论是在基督再来的时候，或是在祂再来之前，神的心意都是希望基督的荣耀得到彰显，能够被人看见。
我们今天怎能让人看见基督呢？别人能够透过我们的言行举动和心态反应来看见基督。别人能够透过祂赐给我们的平安，以及我们所显出的爱心来看见祂。
有些人认为，别人若见到我们的情绪高涨，或有行异能的能力，就会看见圣灵在我们的生命中工作。然而，基督耶稣并不是这样说。祂清楚表明，圣灵的工作是要荣耀祂。因此，唯有当我们学像基督，这就是圣灵在我们心中工作的明证。
反思：我今天的生命能让人看见基督吗？
LET'S GET THINGS STRAIGHT
2 Thessalonians 1: 5-12
5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;
6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,
7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,
8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe,[a] because our testimony among you was believed.
11 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,
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.
Message
One thing they didn't seem to understand was why God didn't punish the people who were persecuting them. Paul's reply was clear. God will punish them and He will do it when Christ comes. This is the other side of Christ's return. Paul was saying, “Just wait. God will take care of them in His own way.”
The angels at Christ's coming will be angels of power and punishment. Those who have worked against God's people will not be welcomed into God's presence but will be shut out from Him forever.
Paul didn't say any more about this tragic future for the unsaved. He switched back as quickly as possible to the wonder of Christ's coming for His own and the purposes of God (vv.10-11). Both at His coming and before He comes, God wants Christ's glory to be seen.
How can Christ be seen in us today? He can be seen in our attitude, our actions, and our reactions. He can be seen in the peace He gives and the love we show.
Some say that the evidence of the Holy Spirit's work in your life will be seen in emotions built up or in your ability to perform in certain ways. That is not what Christ said. His words concerning the evidence of the Holy Spirit's work were, “He shall glorify me.” Therefore, the evidence of the Holy Spirit's work in you or in me is found in our likeness to Christ.
A GOOD QUESTION: HOW MUCH OF JESUS WILL BE SEEN IN ME TODAY?