July 30
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ,” 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5.
In this final greeting in his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, the apostle Paul pleads with them that they would remember the apostles in their prayers. However, he was not thinking only of his own welfare and the welfare of the other apostles. His deeper concern was for getting the Word of the Lord out into the community, and that it be done in a hurry, because there were many who did not know the way of salvation.
Beyond that, there was another concern. He was requesting their prayers that they would “be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.” There were unreasonable and wicked men who mingled among the members of the congregation. He clearly states, “Not all have faith.” They had to contend with unbelievers and with determined enemies of the cross of Christ from within and without the congregation. And, of course, those who oppose the Christian faith from within are the more dangerous.
However, the apostles remained firm in the faith, a faith that rested upon the Lord’s faithfulness: “The Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” The Holy Spirit brings us to faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and through the Gospel He keeps us in the faith. “(The Gospel) is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,” Romans 1:16.
The apostle also speaks of the confidence they had in the Lord, who would enable the Thessalonians to heed and follow the teachings of the apostles: “We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.” Paul had confidence in the Lord that He would enable the Thessalonians both to will and to do what is expected of children of God.
Regularly, Christians should pray for those who teach and preach the Word of God. Pray that they will have the love for souls and the courage to proclaim the Word of God in all its truth and purity in the presence of the enemies of the Gospel. Today, not only elsewhere in the world, but also in our own beloved land, there is an increase in the opposition to Christianity. There are increased efforts to silence the voice of Christianity in our communities, in our schools, in government, in the workplace, and even in our churches!
The apostle Paul prays, “Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.” This is a prayer to continue in the faith in the love of God, revealed in the sending of His Son to be the Savior of all. Jesus is the only Savior for all. He suffered and died on the cross to redeem all people. He rose from the grave and conquered death and the devil for all. Let us patiently work and witness to bring the message of salvation to the churched and the unchurched.
“My soul, be on thy guard;
Ten thousand foes arise,
And hosts of sin are pressing hard
To draw thee from the skies.
Oh, watch and fight and pray,
The battle ne’er give o’er;
Renew it boldly ev’ry day,
And help divine implore.” Amen.