2 Thessalonians 3
Request for Prayer
1Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. 3But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 4We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.
Warning Against Idleness
6In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching[a] you received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
11We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
14If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. 15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
Special Greetings
16Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
17I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Footnotes:
[a] 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Or tradition
3 comments:
2 Thes 3
Sweet! This should be our motto and prayer for each other daily.
5May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ.
The next few verses really stood out to me. I know that I struggle with this sometimes and it could not have been better timing for me to read. I wold also say that it should motivate all of us to elevate our commitment and we should set an example of hard work towrds our daily reading. Thoughts???
Father, what wonderful handbook you have given us. Let us all change our lives to ones that rely on you completely and seek you constantly for the fuel that keeps us going? Let us lead by example as Paul did, living lives that nevertire of doing right and working hard
In Christ,
cas
I must agree with CAS. This passage could not have come at a better time.
verse 10. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."
11 We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.
These two verses hit me where it hurts. We must work for the kingdom of God or we will not eat his fruit (i.e. everlasting life). Often I am busy (doing everything except reading his word on a daily basis and living my life in reflection of him) but not for the true cause. Lord I pray that you touch my heart and convert me from a busybody into someone working for the Lord.
verse 14. If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
I really like the above two verses. It teaches me how to minister to my brothers the correct way. Only through love will we save souls.
LT
2 Thes 3
2And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. 3But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
I also thought that these two verses answered our concerns from chapter 2, where we were discussing the virtual omnipresence of the Enemy. It is always comforting to here that God knows that we're going through struggles against the Enemy and stands in to protect us.
11We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
Wow- two things jump out at me here. One, a subtle but important difference between being a busybody and not being idle. We in the working world often get tied up in menial, unimportant tasks, and we run the "rat race" all day to look back at the end and notice that we didn't accomplish anything. This is how I read this, that God doesn't want us caught up in the games that this world creates, but instead, being productive, starting with taking care of our souls by reading and committing to God each morning. I also enjoy the use of the word "tire" in verse 13. As a maturing (with a loooong way to go) believer, I found myself a while ago struggling with doing what was right, but having it wear me down after a while, wanting to
"take a break" or slide ever so slightly. Now, after having been committed to God and His word for quite a while, it seems no different than an exercise, and like yesterday, I actually felt empty that I had not read/posted. It is so simple in retrospect, and its having a profound influence on the way I get things done here at work, and even more so how I get them done at home.
Father, we all struggle with being human, with the inherent nature that You have given us. What an even more amazing bond You allow us to make with You and with each other when we have to go out of our comfort zone to find You and find each other. Moreover, what incredible rewards it brings, starting with knowing Your Son, who died for us, that we may live and spread Your incredible mercy with others. Getting to know these men, and finding peace in a world that constantly struggles for meaning and placation. Help us to introduce others to this amazing experience which is getting to know You. Please watch over those in our prayers today Father: jrs, Tim and Sheree, ER, Stacie and the baby, Allyson, LRT, those who have lost loved ones in recent weeks, and these men who have become dedicated to You and Your Word. Thank you for being such an amazing Dad! We pray these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus, without whom we would have no hope.
Amen
crb
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