5/31/10 2 Thess 2-3
The Lord is Faithful
(2 Th 3:3)3But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
The Thessalonian church was experiencing increased persecutions and sufferings. This second letter followed just a short time after the first letter to the church. It is apparent that the persecutions and afflictions seemed to have increased and Paul is trying to encourage this little church to continue on in the faith, to continue on loving one another, to continue on following his commands, to continue on in doing good toward others.
He encourages the church that God will repay all of those who are afflicting them. He reminds them with this verse that God is faithful. God has not missed or been unaware of what is taking place among them. Not only have the been experiencing persecution and affliction outside of the church, but apparently now there are some who have come into the church and cause division and discouragement concerning the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess 2:2). Some had been so convinced that Jesus return was so soon that they quit working and lived off of the generosity of their fellow members. Paul instructs the benevolent minded believers to no longer allow those who are capable of working to defrauded them any longer.
Paul gives some clarity to the second coming of Christ to this church who have been rattled by a fabricated or distorted teaching presumed to be from Paul (2 Thess 2:2). Chapter 2 for us has some difficulties because we do not know the other side of the conversation that took place when Paul was with them and teaching them about this doctrine (2 Thess 2:5). We must seek to carefully study these passages but our main focus should not be to determine times and epochs, but rather to be alert and self-controlled anticipating the return of Christ.
The Lord is faithful. A holy God is a faithful and just God and He cannot allow injustices to go unpunished or corrected. A faithful God fulfills his promises and since He has said that Christ will return we can confidently expect His return. In the mean time we can live with the confident promise that God will strengthen and protect us from the evil one.
Prayer: Father I praise you for your faithfulness in all things. Whatever you have said will come to past. I do not have to doubt or wonder as to if you will come through. You always come through. I ask that you prepare me to be ready for the Lord Jesus’ return. I ask that you will strengthen me to do your work until He comes. I ask for you divine protection over me, my family, all those I love, and all who are of the household of faith. Prepare my mind and heart for what is before me that I will be faithful as you are faithful. Thank that I have seen so many people who have been faithful and true to you over the years. I ask that I will be that faithful person to others where they will be encouraged to not grow weary in doing good even in the face of persecution or division, even so come Lord Jesus. Amen.