2 Thessalonians 3:3

Verse of the Day Devotion 2 Thessalonians 3:3 

“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Paul started out this section of his second letter to the Church in Thessalonica with a request for prayer, both for him and his fellow workers. The first request Paul was that the message of Jesus would be spread by them. “Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;” 2 Thessalonians 3:1.  This message was the gospel Paul and his companions were dedicated to proclaim wherever they could. This was the main calling they had.  And he requested prayers that they could reach as many as possible with this good news. And the second prayer request was that this word from the Lord would be honored, just as it was when it was presented to the church there. In the Book of Acts, he speaks of such a reception that he desires everywhere they go. “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:48.

We learn from Acts and the Pauline letters that in city after city Paul and his associates met with great opposition, and from the depth of these experiences Paul solicits this request for the Thessalonians’ prayers. This message and its messengers had been dishonored by the tumult and riots that frequently ensued when it was proclaimed, as in the case of Thessalonica. On other occasions the gospel was simply rejected as so much foolishness. “For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness.” 1 Corinthians 1”22-23.  In other cases, it is mocked as it was in Athens . “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.” Acts 17:32.

Now he returns to the desperate situation of the Thessalonians. They were suffering persecution generated by their contemporaries. They were suffering persecution generated by their contemporaries, the prime mover behind the hostilities being Satan himself. “For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so, it came to pass, as you know. For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor should be in vain.” 1 Thessalonians 3:4-5.

Then in our focus verse, we read “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians3:3.  Paul now reminds the Thessalonians of something they already know: that being the Lord is faithful. In the first letter the founders of the church reminded the Thessalonians of the fidelity of God. But while that confession underscored God’s faithfulness in completing his work in the lives of the believers, here his faithfulness is tied to the protection of the Thessalonians in the midst of their sufferings: that being He will strengthen and protect them from the works of the evil one. 

In the ancient system of patronage, which defined many social relationships as well as religious and governmental institutions, the patron was expected to demonstrate fidelity toward his or her clients, which was understood, at least in part, as the patron’s “protection” of the client. A person or even a nation could be under the protection of another. In the present text, the Lord is viewed as the patron/protector in his faithfulness to the persecuted believers. As such, he will strengthen them, that is, he will establish them in the midst of their trials so that they do not fall.  Plus, He will protect them from Satan. “and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3b.  This promise is hardly meant to convey to the church that they will not suffer but rather affirms that in the midst of their sufferings their faithful Patron, The Lord our God,  will strengthen them so that they will not fall. He will shield them from the ultimate shame of succumbing to the wiles of their adversary.

And this promise was not just for then but is very much relevant today.  We could very well find ourselves being persecuted for our belief in Christ, and especially so if we are doing the work God has called us to do.  However, God has told us He will protect us and strengthen us so we can remain strong in the faith.  Satan is working to do as much damage as possible to the church. Whatever he can do to destroy the work of God in this world through us, he will do.  When this happens, we must remember that God will always be close by.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

2 Thessalonians 3:13

Verse of the Day Devotion: 2 Thessalonians 3:13   

“But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:13 

Paul, in this section, is warning the Christians not to become idle regarding the works of God.  “For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.” 2 Thessalonians 3:11. We are not completely sure how Paul heard about this, whether by Timothy, or by someone else. He did not doubt its truth, and he seems to have been prepared to believe it the more readily from what he saw when he was among them. However, he was notified, it was related to Paul they were not doing the work for which they had, by God, been called.  On the contrary, they were simply being busybodies. The idea here regarding the term ‘busybody’ is going about doing useless deeds, to keep busy with trivial and useless matters.  Here, Paul is essentially saying they are doing none of what they should be doing yet overdoing and being involved in the business of others. In other words, busy about everyone’s business but their own. The well-known theologian Charles Spurgeon puts it this way. “Not doing their own business, and therefore putting their noses into everybody else’s business”.

Also, they did no real work but put forth the pretense they were. To put forth a pretense is to make something that is not true appear to be true. And taking this to a higher level, the problem of these declared as disorderly was not simply that they did not want to work, but that they refused to work. They did not want to help others, but rather to be helped by others. We do not know the exact reason why they opted to continue to live as clients. Manual labor was, as we have seen, despised by not a few, especially the social elite, but some philosophers and others considered such labor noble.

Now, Paul corrects these people in the next verse. “Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.” 1 Thessalonians 3:12. He is telling these that at the least, they should do whatever work is necessary to meet their own needs, and to do I quietly in a peaceful manner.  We read this idea in the first letter. “Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12. Now this is interesting because what we read in this verse is exactly what He calls for the ‘busybodies’ to do, except in the second letter he makes this statement to those who refuse to work, whereas here it is meant for those who work to assist others. In other words, take care of your own needs while you assist others where they need help.

Now to our focus verse. “But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.” 2 Thessalonians 3:13.  Here, Paul turns his focus from those who had grieved him in the church to speak to the rest of the brothers and sisters in Christ. He is telling them not to be discouraged in doing what is right and good.  The command not to be discouraged does not mean simply that they should not become weary with doing what is right but rather that they should not give up or abandon their efforts. Paul said a very similar thing to the Church in Galatia. “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” Galatians 6:9-10.  Although the apostle had absolved the patrons of their responsibility to those who did not want to work, this in no way implied that they should quit doing what was correct on behalf of those in genuine need. Just because there were some who did not participate, there were still many who needed their help, and thus they should continue to meet their needs. 

It Is important to understand that because we are called to be Christians through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, our calling does not end there.  For He has called us all to do His work in this world.  Becoming a believer and Christian is simply the beginning. Paul, in his letter to the Church in Colossae wrote, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.” Colossians 3:23-25.

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries. 

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Verse of the Day Devotion: 2 Thessalonians 3:16 

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!” – 2 Thessalonians 3:16

This verse comes at the end of Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians.  He has written much to them regarding how they should carry themselves in order to do what is right.  And in his final words, he encourages them by, in essence, praying that God will give them peace.  He starts by acknowledging that Jesus Christ is the Lord of Peace.  He said a similar thing to the Ephesians. “But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2:13-16.  Note the wording at the beginning. ”For He Himself is our peace.”  It was Christ who brought peace between the Jews and Gentiles as well as between mankind and God.  He was also called Prince of Peace.  “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

He follows this by saying may Christ grant you continual peace in every circumstance.  He said a similar  thing to the Church at Rome at the end of his letter to them, “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”  This is a very encouraging statement, for both churches who were in somewhat of a state of turmoil and could benefit from the impartation of peace.  God wants His people to be at peace.  Jesus declared to His disciples this very thing.  “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”  John 14:25-27.

And as He spoke those words to His twelve disciples, He is speaking these same words to us today.  God wants us to be at peace in every aspect of our lives.  What we must do is look to the Prince of Peace no matter what is happening in our world.  Christians all over are being persecuted, tortured, and killed.  But the God of Peace is with them.  We may find ourselves persecuted for the cause of Christ.  But always remember, the God of Peace is with us.  No matter what life brings our way, no matter how hard things get, or how difficult people are to us, the God of Peace is with us. 

God loves us, and He does not want us to be in turmoil or lack peace.  If we find ourselves in a negative situation, then we should pray that He will bring us peace.  We must take our minds off our circumstances and focus on Him, and His deep love for us.  And we must remember He will stay by our side.  “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6.  We have nothing to fear or be anxious about since God, who loves us with a never-ending love, and who is all powerful and can do all things, is watching over us and guiding us through.  What more could we ask for?

William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.