I have mentioned in my writing and study that I will never be worthy, but I will continue to strive for it and pray that others will as well. But why is the question.
“11To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (ESV)
I see here in Paul’s 2nd letter to the church in Thessalonica that it is for the glory of God in you and in Him. I am seeking the glory of God, not that He would remove all affliction, but that I would somehow be able to achieve glory in Him and that He would be glorified by me. I have the duty to seek our the glory of God for me and for those around me. Whether achieved is up to God and us. Our job is to lift Him up and He will provide and grant what is in His will for our lives.
“5This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels” – 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7 (ESV)
There is also the words above from Paul indicating that we seek worthy for relief. As I mentioned above, I will not seek to remove affliction, but that I could achieve glory. Where God will allow for my affliction, He does not forget about me and the work that I have or will do in His name. And as such, He will relieve my afflictions at the appointed time that they are to be relieved for the work done in His name.
Now I know the reasons for my work to be viewed as worthy. I am not, of course, but the work I do for God, I do in the quest for glory and relief. He will provide that which is in His plan for me. And that goes for others as well. I pray not for others to be worthy, but for them to demonstrate worthiness with the idea that they are seeking glory and relief themselves. And when we seek to glorify God, we will be glorified and as Paul writes, will be granted relief.
What actions are you taking to bring glory to God? Are you seeking your own worthiness or that of others? What if you simply sought to bring glory to God so that He would be glorified in you and may provide relief?
Trevor's Thoughts 