Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
1 Thessalonians 2:20 NIV
Glory and Joy
Victoria, British Columbia, is noted to be the happiest place in Canada, with a happiness index of 8.0 out of 10. Located on Vancouver Island, Victoria exudes charm with its historic architecture, temperate climate, and strong sense of community. The city’s emphasis on sustainability, cultural diversity, and work-life balance contributes to its high happiness quotient. With a mild climate, scenic waterfronts, and a slower pace of life, Victoria offers residents a high quality of life conducive to well-being.
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Too often in the Christian church, we measure things by those things the world finds important – the attendance, the budget, the number of programs, the size of the building. We need to be careful in this, because the Kingdom of God measures things using an entirely different standard. In speaking to the Christians in Thessalonica, a church he started, filled with people that came to know Jesus through his ministry, in 1 Thessalonians 2:20, Paul writes, “Indeed, you are our glory and joy.” The greatest reward of faithful service is not recognition, but relationship. Lives shaped by the gospel. Hearts awakened to Christ. Brothers and sisters who will one day stand together before Jesus. Paul is thinking about the day of Christ, when all that truly mattered will be revealed. On that day, resumes will be meaningless, but redeemed lives will shine. The people God placed in our path—family, friends, neighbours, fellow believers—these are our eternal investments. It also challenges us personally. Who are we pouring into? Who are we praying for, encouraging, walking alongside? With whom have we shared the good news of Jesus? Our faith bears fruit best in the souls of those we’ve led to Jesus and in the soil of community.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley