Read with Me
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 (HCSB)
Finally, brothers, pray for us that the Lord’s message may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and guard you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do what we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to God’s love and Christ’s endurance.
Listen with Me
In this paragraph, Paul makes two interrelated prayer requests, makes two positive statements, and delivers a brief prayer of his own for the Thessalonian believers.
The two requests are first, that God’s message would spread and be honored. Paul had been hard at work spreading the message of salvation through faith in Jesus since he had had to leave Thessalonica. He had moved south to Berea, further south to Athens, and then west to Corinth, often harassed and forced out of one place toward the next (Acts 17:10-18:5).
And now, opposition and persecution were starting to arise in Corinth (Acts 18:6-8). Even though Paul would ultimately stay there for a year and a half (Acts 18:11), he knew that the work would not be easy. So, he also requested prayer for himself and his ministry, that God would deliver him and his coworkers from the wicked and evil men who were opposing the message of salvation. He asked in confidence that God would answer powerfully, and that the work of the gospel would be able to continue to move forward.
But he was also mindful that the Thessalonians were undergoing opposition and persecution of their own. So, he was quick to remind them that God is faithful, and that He will strengthen and protect His people. Paul had experienced that strength and protection in his own ministry, so he knew that God would do it for his readers as well.
Paul also had had the report from Silas and Timothy that the Thessalonian believers were being faithful, not only continuing to believe, but also continuing to do the work of the kingdom in Paul’s absence. So, he commended them for their faithfulness.
Finally, Paul prays for the Thessalonians. He well knew that the hearts of people left to their own devices are prone to go astray. So, he prayed God’s guidance for all these believers, that their hearts would be directed into the path of God’s agape love, and that they would be strengthened to follow Jesus’ example of perseverance.
Pray with Me
Father, it seems like the overarching theme of this section of Paul’s letter is perseverance, not losing hope or allowing distractions to sideline us. Someone once said that the Christian walk is not a sprint but a marathon. In light of these verses, that helps me to see that receiving Jesus as Savior and Lord is not the final point of salvation but is merely the first step of a life-long journey. And if we stop before we are done, or if we decide to take a side road, we could easily fail to finish the race, and will miss our goal. Lord, help me to never grow weary on the journey. To never allow myself to get sidetracked by current events, struggles, trials, or any other thing the enemy throws at me, so that with Your help, I can finish the race and receive the prize. Amen.