2 THESSALONIANS Chapter THREE

Exhortation

Theme: The Practicality of the Coming of Christ

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’ Breath Publications

 

Please consider reading the entire first Chapter of 2 Thessalonians sometime during each day of the week. This will help you absorb the content of the chapter as well as gain spiritual truths from this marvelous book of the Bible. You will be amazed at the insights that will come from such consistent readings, as well as the growth of your spiritual knowledge. You will also notice how God’s Word will impact your life in the way you relate to your Heavenly Father as well as think, act and treat others around you.

 

In order for this devotional to help you learn and apply what is beneficial to your spiritual growth, I would encourage you to approach this devotional study with a commitment to observe these five steps each day.

 

First, pray before you read the scripture, that you will seek to both understand and apply what you learn.

(Psalms 119)

 

Second, read the scripture passage with a passion and a desire to be convicted by what you read.

(Psalms 37:29-31)

 

Thirdly, seek to meditate and absorb what you read and respond to how the Holy Spirit will convict you to act.

(John 16:13-15)

 

Fourthly, challenge yourself how you might apply the convictions that come from the scripture and the Spirit.

(Psalms 1:1-3)

 

Fifthly, pray once again, that you will consistently act upon what the Holy Spirit is prompting you to do.

(James 1:22-25)

 

Below each portion of scripture I may at times present additional information helpful to understanding the passage. I will always give you questions for your consideration and to stimulate action on your part. You may not wish to explore each question, but I would challenge you to seek to address most if not all of the points I lay before you to gain the most from the devotional.

 

DAY ONE

 

“1 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;”

 

Paul here informs the Thessalonian Christians that he wishes for them to pray for him as well as Silas and Timothy. Even though all of them, and especially Paul, were strong in their faith and exhibited excellent dedication to the Lord, they still coveted the prayers for their life and ministry. Paul also shared his need for prayer in the following verses; Romans 15:30, Ephesians 6:19, Colossians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:25, Philemon 22. We all need prayer and must rely upon each other to lift up each other in prayer.

 

* Do you share your prayer needs with others? Do you pray for your fellow Christians? Do you pray for those who have authority over you in the church such as small group leaders, deacons and pastors? Make a commitment to pray for these individuals so that they might remain strong and empowered by God to serve God and you as well.

 

Paul shares two major things that the Thessalonian believers can pray for. Prayer is not simply for our own personal needs, nor for the needs of others, but also that the Gospel of Christ be spread abroad. Consistent and persistent prayers should be made at all times so that the saving message of Jesus Christ is heard by all people. We should share our faith to those we come in contact with, but we must also pray that the Gospel spreads beyond our own sphere of influence to the entire world.

 

* Do you pray in this manner to your Heavenly Father? If not, make a commitment to do so on a regular basis.

 

This verse tells us that as the Gospel message reaches across the lands, people come to faith in God through His Son Jesus Christ. This is the way in which you also were saved. The Word of God is closely associated with Jesus Christ for He is the Living Word. When we obey the Word, we bring glory to the Word and to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

* Are you living in a Christ-like way so that the Word is glorified and others see your witness of the Lord in your life? While you can witness through the words you speak, a greater witness is in how closely you live like Christ as you are led by the Spirit of God who lives within you as a follower of Christ.

 

Regarding prayer in the life of the Christian, John Phillips writes in his commentary on 1 & 2 Thessalonians, an amazing description of the power and purpose of prayer in the life of the Christian.

 

“Prayer can place us in a village in Africa or in a hut on the Amazon. It can put us in a peasant’s cottage or a royal palace. It can sit us alongside a suffering saint or raise a roadblock in the path of a scoundrel. It can do its work in the heart of a seeker at the close of a service. It can change the course of empires. It can put to rout spiritual forces of wickedness in high places, and it can bind evil spirits and set their captives free. Prayer links us with the throne of the universe. It connects us with the mind, heart, and will of God. Why this should be is a mystery. Prayer is one of the forces of the universe, as real as the forces of gravity, electricity, and magnetism. God always takes into account the factor of prayer when He is resolving the total equation of the universe.”

 

“2 and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.”

 

Paul submits a second prayer request to the Thessalonian Christians, that he be rescued from perverted evil men. Such evil individuals, because they do not possess faith in God and have distaste for godly things, often persecute those who obey the one true God. In these opening verses of this chapter Paul encourages the Christians at Thessalonica (and us as well) to share prayer requests with other followers of Christ. This helps build fellowship among the saints and demonstrates our dependence, not only on God, but also other Christians. We are dependent on each other as followers of Christ to hold up each other in prayer and many other numerous ways. We need the support of fellow believers to grow in our faith and spiritual maturity.

 

* Do you share your prayer requests with other Christians? Do you also pray for the prayer requests of others? Seek to be proactive in sharing your life with other believers. We are dependent on one another as we live the Christian life. You can’t grow and be spiritual healthy if you are a “hermit” Christian.

 

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

 

Paul has shared his prayer request and can identify with the Thessalonian believers who are being persecuted. Now he encourages them that their Heavenly Father is always faithful. He shares that God is dependable and has heavenly abilities to sustain them in all sorts of trials, hardships and persecutions. Paul shares that God will strengthen them during the storms of life and will protect them from Satan, the evil one. This protection from Satan does not mean that we will never experience physical or emotional trauma, but that our eternal fate is in the hands of our Mighty God. Satan and evil men may cause us harm, but they can never touch our eternal security. This rests in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. Satan is skilled in the game of life. He knows how to tempt, how to put a roadblock up to ministry efforts and how to block the reception of the Gospel message. BUT, he is no match for the Holy Spirit. God is our source of strength. His Word is our spiritual weapon. Prayer is also in our spiritual arsenal to be used on a continual basis. The Holy Spirit living within followers of Christ responds to our prayers and protects us from the evil one on a constant basis. We must keep in step with the Holy Spirit as we live as a Christian. When we let the Word of Christ dwell within us (Colossians 3:16) and allow the Holy Spirit to fill us (Ephesians 5:18) we can withstand the attacks of the evil one.

 

* Do you have a deep trust in God and His faithfulness? If not, pray that God will give you an extra measure of faith through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within you as a follower of Christ. He can give you the power to deal with the trials and struggles you face each day.

 

While Satan will often attack us and cause us harm, God will not allow Satan to go beyond a certain line that your Heavenly Father draws with His powerful loving hand (Job 1:12, 1 Corinthians 10:13). God also promises to provide His power to sustain us which is evidence of His wonderful sufficient grace (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

 

* This next week as you pray for an increase in your faith for spiritual growth in your life, make notes on how God has been faithful and helpful in empowering you to deal with the storms of life and the hardships you face.

 

DAY TWO

 

“4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.”

 

Paul in this verse shares his confidence in the Thessalonian believers ability to live up to their holy calling as Christians. He has this confidence in them because of his confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as their past track record of being faithful.

 

* Can God have this kind of confidence in you? Are you faithful to continue to do what He commands and to live as Jesus Christ would in all situations?

* If there are weak areas in your life that need to be improved or changed, share these with your Heavenly father and ask for divine strength and power to address these issues. The Holy Spirit will distribute this strength and power in your life as you ask for it and expect, in faith, for it to come. Consider sharing these weaknesses with another Christian you can trust so they can hold you accountable to your commitment and to also pray for you in these areas. Have them share their needs with you as well so you can pray for them and encourage them as well.

* This verse reminds us of the 22 Jewels in the chain of holy living that we covered in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. John 14:15 and John 15:10 both tell us the importance of keeping the commandments of the Lord. Go back and review the 22 Jewels (commandments) in the chain of holy living. How are you doing in living according to these commandments?

 

“5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.”

 

Paul in verse five prays for God to direct the hearts of the followers of Christ in Thessalonica in two areas; first, “into the love of God.” The Love of God is necessary for any follower of Christ to remain strong in their faith, trusting in their Savior and encouraged during the trials they face. As we experience the love of God we are comforted in trials and encouraged in hardships because we know that His love will sustain us. We trust that God is working in our lives during struggles because we are assured that He loves us. John Stott in his commentary on the books of Thessalonians states regarding the love of God the following;

 

“Behind God’s election, call and gifts there lies God’s love. That God is love, that He has set His love upon us, that He loves us still, and that His love will never let us go, is the foundation not only of all reality, but of Christian confidence and Christian stability too. Our stability is not only impossible, but actually inconceivable, apart from the steadfastness of the love of God.”

 

* Are you living in the knowledge that God loves you? If not, pray that God will strengthen your faith and trust in Him. Your relationship with Jesus Christ will facilitate this process. Seek to build your relationship with Christ by spending time with Him in prayer. As your faith grows through the study of His Word and the support of other followers of Christ you will become more established in how much He loves you.

 

Secondly, Paul directs the hearts of the followers of Christ in Thessalonica into the steadfastness of Christ. Christ is our example of steadfast obedience. Because of His submission to the will of His Father and His commitment to die for our sins He is the best example of how to be steadfast and godly. Eugene Peterson’s book on the steady life that is necessary for a stable Christian is called, “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction” and its title reflects the steadiness of Christ that we are to model in our lives.

 

* As Jesus directs you into the pattern of His own steadfast life, how does this affect how you think, act and behave? If you determine that there are areas of your life you fail to be steadfast in, pray about these areas and ask the Holy Spirit to work in your life to build more godly steadfastness. Becoming like Christ is a lifelong process that we will never finish while on this earth. It requires a surrender to the Lordship of Christ over your life, a commitment to the study of the Word of God, a trust in God’s direction in your life and a passion to love others more than yourself. I pray that you will continue to seek to grow in all these areas of your life in Christ.

 

As you live in the love of God and remain steadfast in your walk in Christ, consider the words the Apostle Paul wrote in another letter sent to the followers of Christ in Corinth. In 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 he writes, “You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” Have you ever considered that you are a spiritual letter that is being read by all you meet and to those to which you minister? People read your life actions, deeds and behavior all the time. Do they read how you love your Heavenly Father, obey the teachings of Jesus Christ, and walk in accordance with the guidance of the Holy Spirit who lives within you? As you seek the love of God and pour it out into the lives of others you will be a comforting and loving letter read by others. As you remain steadfast to the teachings of Christ and reflect His character and godliness you will make a godly impression on those that come into your life. Meditate on these truths this week and ask God for power and strength to manifest His love to people in need. You will be a much needed letter of love that those who are hurting, confused and heartbroken need to read.

 

“6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.”

 

Paul in verse five was giving encouraging directions as to how God was going to work in the lives of the Thessalonian Christians. Now Paul gives some godly commands for them to follow. First he commands that Christians living in the local churches of Thessalonica keep a good distance from those Christian brothers and sisters who live an unruly life, a life that is not in agreement with the Christian instruction they had received. The Greek word for “unruly” here is “ataktos” and means “morally irregular or disorderly or to play truant.” This word was often used of soldiers who were not keeping in their ranks or of an army in disarray. Paul knows that the influence of disobedient Christians could lead others astray and was giving instruction to be careful how they associated with such people. He does not say to disown them or reject them as a follower of Christ, just to avoid associating with them in an intimate way. The Greek word Paul uses for “keep away from” is “stello” which was a word used for the furling (drawing down or folding up) a sail. It suggests shrinking back from someone. It is a way of communicating that someone’s behavior or attitudes are not acceptable. Paul knew that God would deal with them as would leaders in the local churches. While these unruly individuals were being held accountable for their ungodly behavior and practices, it was important that their disobedient lives would not taint and spoil the lives of other believers.

 

Paul here is making attempts to address several individuals in the local church in Thessalonica. Apparently Paul had received word that some Christians were not behaving as good followers of Christ. Their influence on other Christians had to be addressed. Paul wanted to protect the dedicated believers that were staying close to the Holy Spirit and walking as Jesus walked. He advised that they steer clear of those Christians who were not living as they should. This action would not only protect the dedicated Christians it would put pressure on the disobedient ones to repent and once again, walk as godly saints. Paul’s commands here would be evident to those who were overseeing the local church and these disobedient Christians would be dealt with in both a loving and instructive manner.

 

* Are there Christians you associate with that do not live godly lives? Have you considered holding them accountable for their actions and addressing their disobedient lives? Galatians 6:1 states; “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” As you read this verse how does it apply to Paul’s instructions and commands concerning a person who has fallen away from the faith? Make a list of the attitudes and actions in Galatians 6:1 that would help the Thessalonian Christians, as well as yourself, in restoring to fellowship a straying brother or sister in the Lord. How does this reflect the love of God for those who have strayed from fellowship with Him?

 

In this verse Paul uses the complete title of the Savior. “Jesus” means “Savior” and is His human name (Matthew 1:21). “Christ” is His divine title; it means “Messiah – the Anointed One.” At least twenty times in the Thessalonian letters, Paul uses this complete title of our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

* Do you understand the importance of the belief that Jesus was both fully man and fully God? He has always existed and is a member of the triune Godhead we worship and serve as Christians, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He was miraculously born of a virgin through the power of the Holy Spirit, so He had no original sin like we do. As a man, He faced all the temptations we face, but never sinned. Philippians 2:6-8 discusses the glory that Jesus set aside so that He could experience the life of being human, but He did not give up His divinity. Why is it so important we understand that Jesus was both man and God at the same time? How is this difficult to understand? Share this issue with other Christians and between you settle the fact that Jesus was both man and God when He walked the earth.

 

DAY THREE

 

“7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,”

 

Paul is not bragging here, he is just being honest. Paul knew the example he needed to set for those he had led to the Lord. He also knew the witness he portrayed as he dealt with those who disagreed with him. He remained disciplined in all areas of his life so that no aspersions or criticisms could be cast on his dedication to the Lord or any other fellow Christian.

 

* People watch those who say they are a follower of Christ. They form judgments based on your actions, attitudes and behavior. You are an example to them of Jesus Christ. You represent the Christian faith, the Holy Bible and the Holy Spirit. Take this responsibility and duty as seriously as Paul did. This should not be a laborious and difficult task, it should be a loving ministry you seek to live out motivated by your worship for your Heavenly Father, your love for Jesus Christ and your respect for the Holy Spirit. Pray about this ministry you have of representing your Lord and Savior on earth. Seek strength from God and power from the Holy Spirit to walk as Jesus walked this next week. Write down your struggles below in your attempt to fulfill this ministry and pray that you will be more consistent in your witness before others.

 

“8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you;”

 

Paul continues with his description of his lifestyle and manner of living to reflect the Lord’s direction in his life. Here he is addressing the issue that was taking place in the fellowship of Christians in Thessalonica; that of Christians who were failing to seek work and instead were living off of other believers. These were lazy Christians who used the excuse that Christ was soon to return so why work. Paul knew that it was necessary to set an example for other Christians in how to work and live as a follower of Christ. He paid his own way and with much hardship worked day and night so that he was not a burden to anyone while he ministered. We all deal with the temptation of laziness at one time or another, but we should always avoid making a habit of it. We need to set an example for other Christians as well as non-believers that we are responsible people that provide for ourselves whenever possible. There are times we may be in need and must seek assistance from others, but we should not make a habit of this.

 

* If you struggle with laziness, pray to your Heavenly Father that He will use the Holy Spirit to convict you of this habit. Seek to balance resting with laboring so you live a balanced life and are a good example to others in the way you live. Write down below some actions you can take to avoid wasting your time or failing to accomplish tasks related to providing for you and your family. You may wish to share this with another close brother or sister in Christ so they can hold you accountable.

 

“9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.”

 

Paul in a sense had a right to request help and lodging for his needs. He was a traveling evangelist in the ministry to serve God and others. 1 Timothy 5:17-18 states that elders are able to receive remuneration for their services in leading a local body of believers. But Paul wished to live by a higher standard and therefore here he shares that while he had the right as an Apostle to request support from other Christians, he chose not to in order to serve as a model for others to follow. There are many areas of our lives that require us to set a good example, many times above the standard of the world.

 

* Do you set a good Christian example for others to follow? If not, pray that God will enable you to walk more uprightly and consistently in your life.

* 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 speaks of how we are a fragrance of Christ to others. This relates to Paul’s conviction shared in verse 9 to be a role model to all he came in contact with, especially other followers of Christ. As you evaluate your spiritual life, how does it smell? If you would describe it in a rather pungent and offensive manner, pray that you would be more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and more obedient to scripture in the way in which you live. Love, patience, maturity, humility and truthfulness are just a few qualities of a life lived for God. A follower of Christ who has these spiritual qualities in their life is an attractive fragrance to others and draws them to desiring Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

 

DAY FOUR

 

“10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.”

 

Here Paul directs the followers of Christ at Thesssalonica how to deal with those who were lazy and unwilling to work for a living, even though they were very able to work. Paul orders them to not feed them if they are not willing to work for their own food. There are individuals who because of a disability, a hardship or lack of skills or resources are unable to work. These are not the individuals that Paul was speaking about. He was talking about healthy individuals who were capable of providing for themselves but refused to apply themselves to work and self-sufficiency. Another point is that these were followers of Christ, not unbelievers. Paul was addressing the issue of lazy Christians in the body of Christ. Many churches and ministries reach out to the homeless to feed, clothe and house them. These are not the type of people that Paul was criticizing and instructing the Christians in Thessalonica to avoid and hold accountable. We are always to minister and serve those in need, even those who are followers of Christ, but if a Christian is able to work but avoids employment for inadequate reasons we need to address the real issue and restrict and monitor how we help them so we do not inappropriately enable them to continue in the habit of laziness.

 

* If you know a Christian who is reflecting a life of laziness and living off of others inappropriately, pray for them, that God would convict them of their ungodly habit. Be loving and wise, but if God leads you to do so, you may wish to approach them and discuss this issue with them in an encouraging manner.

* Scripture gives us many examples that the obedient follower of Christ is involved in life, working to provide for themselves and active in ministry. Look up the following scriptures and list some examples that are given of how a Christian should live; Matthew 25:14-30, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 15:58, Galatians 6:6-9, Colossians 3:23, 1 Timothy 6:11-12, 1 Peter 4:7-11. The verbs in these verses reflect Christian involvement that are living, active and vital to faith in God; “invest, abound, fight, run, compete, resist, work.”

 

“11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.”

 

Paul in this verse shares additional information concerning irresponsible Christians in the fellowships of Thessalonica. They were not only lazy unwilling to work, they also reflected an undisciplined life. In addition to this poor example, they also occupied their time concentrating on being a busybody! The Greek word for “busybody” here is “periergazomai” and means someone who is meddlesome in the lives of others and very likely someone who thrives on gossiping. Paul would in the future deal with this and other issues in the church at Corinth. In 2 Corinthians 12:20 he gives a list of all the ungodly behaviors that were taking place in this church. Here, as he addresses the Thessalonian Christians, he is attempting to encourage proper behavior and discourage ungodly and irresponsible actions.

 

* As you examine your life, do you have areas that are undisciplined? List ways you are undisciplined and pray that God will enable you through the influence of the Holy Spirit to be more disciplined in these areas. You might consider sharing these areas where you lack discipline with another Christian you trust and respect. They could help you in your spiritual growth by holding you accountable to growing in the Lord. They also may need help in areas of their spiritual life that you could also pray for and hold them accountable for as well.

 

* Read 1 Timothy 5:13 and relate how this verse is reflective of people who do not work and fill their time being busybodies. Often this type of life leads to gossiping about others. Are you tempted to gossip? Are you a busybody in the lives of others? Pray that the Holy Spirit will convict you of these inappropriate habits and empower you to avoid participating in such actions. This not only will improve your reputation it will also bring honor to Christ and improve the witness you have before others. If you struggle in these areas, consider having another follower of Christ you are close to, to hold you accountable. Become prayer partners and pray for each other in these areas.

 

“12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.”

 

Paul was always very practical and up front. Here he writes a command to those who are lazy, won’t work and who live a life of a busybody (gossip) and meddle in the lives of others. The command is rather blunt, “work in a quiet fashion and eat your own bread.” In essence he is saying, Do your own work! Don’t be meddling in other people’s affairs! Stop mooching off of others by eating their food. Eat the food you provide for yourself! Be a responsible and mature follower of Jesus Christ!

 

* Why is it so easy for us to be lazy at times? Why is it tempting to use the resources of others rather than providing for ourselves? What advice would you give to someone struggling in these areas? Write down some thoughts you could share in a loving manner with a person who struggles with laziness. Could these same words be used in your own life as you find yourself being lazy at times?

 

DAY FIVE

 

“13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.”

 

Paul here summarizes the unifying principle in chapter three, that waiting on God with discipline cultivates responsibility. “Doing good” can represent many things. It relates to how we think, act and treat others around us. It relates to how we work; spend our leisure time and fellowship with friends. It relates to how we worship, obey and love God. Once we become a follower of Christ we have a new nature and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This motivates us to seek to do good in all areas of our life. Doing good can be a burden at times, but here Paul encourages us to never grow weary of doing good. When we become discouraged or tired in doing good, that is the time to seek strength from the Lord. When we do this, the Holy Spirit will empower us to keep doing good, not in our own strength, but with the strength from the Lord Himself.

 

* Are there times when you have grown weary of doing good? Pray at such times, that God will minister to you and fill you with His grace, mercy, love and power to continue to do good in all areas of your life. Again this is where fellowship with other followers of Christ is important. We can hold each other up and help each other, not to grow weary of doing good. You can’t be a “loner” follower of Christ or a “hermit” Christian. Seek another Christian friend to share this with and hold one another accountable, so that neither of you grow weary of the challenge of doing good in all areas of your life.

 

* Read Galatians 6:9 and relate it to verse 13 in 2 Thessalonians chapter 3. How can both of these verses challenge you to manage your time well and how do they affect the ministry you are called to as a child of God?

 

DAY SIX

“14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.”

 

Paul now gives a special instruction regarding the commands he has been laying out for the followers of Christ at Thessalonica. He states that if anyone in the local Christian fellowship does not obey his commands, the Thessalonian Christians are to take special notice of this person and to not associate with them. The purpose of this is not to disown them as a brother or sister in Christ, nor to cast them out from the fellowship of believers. The purpose is to put them in a convicting situation for their disobedience, the English word here is “shame.” The Greek word for “shame” in this text is “entrepho” and actually means “to educate, nourish up in.” The intent was not to humiliate the disobedient Christian and drive them out of the fellowship. It was to cause them to come to their senses and repent of their disobedience. It was to help them see the seriousness of their failure to obey the commands of an Apostle of Jesus Christ and the seriousness of their actions. Unless people are faced with consequences of their sin, they will continue to act and think in an inappropriate and disobedient fashion and also possibly lead others astray in the process.

 

* How is Paul’s instruction to avoid contact with a disobedient Christian helpful to such a person so that they can see their sin? How is it also helpful in protecting others from being drawn into the same sin?

* How could the instruction in this verse be misinterpreted and applied in a cruel fashion so as to drive a fellow believer out of a fellowship? This is not the intent of Paul’s instruction? How can we avoid inappropriately applying this verse and instead speak the truth in love while also setting boundaries in our relationship with a sinning brother or sister?

 

“15 Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

 

Here we see Paul continue to qualify how this instruction of “shaming” a brother or sister should be carried out. Paul specifically states we are not to treat them as an enemy, but to admonish them as a brother or sister. The English word for “admonish” has many synonyms; “reprove, caution, warn, rebuke.”The Greek word used here “noutheteo,” has the same meaning. This instructs us that we are to lovingly approach a fellow believer who is rebellious and confront them with their sin. We may also, as Paul instructs, limit our association with them or restrict our time with them as a method of setting a boundary to demonstrate the seriousness of their actions. In historical Christianity this has also been known as the practice of “shunning.” Shunning is the act of social rejection, or emotional distance. In a church fellowship it is a formal decision by a denomination or a congregation to cease interaction with an individual or a group. This spiritual practice of spiritual discipline is to follow a particular set of guidelines to lovingly seek to convict a person of their sin so they can be restored, while at the same time protecting others from following the same sinful path. Unfortunately history has proven that this verse can often be applied in an unloving manner, without the intent of correcting and restoring someone to fellowship. Instead it has sometimes been used as a method of harmful punishment. Men and women often misinterpret scripture to build themselves up, to ostracize their fellow Christians and gain power over others in the family of God. A parallel verse that applies to the idea Paul is striving for is contained in his letter to the Galatians in Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” Notice the key words in this verse. The intent is to “restore.” The method used is to be one of “gentleness.” The boundaries are indicated in the last portion of this verse, “looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”

 

* How can it be easy at times for people to use verses such as these in 2 Thessalonians and Galatians 6 to mistreat others? Does it have something to do with desiring to build ourselves up at the expense of someone else’s spiritual condition? How does our sinful pride enter into such attitudes and actions? How can humility before the Lord and “agape” love for others keep us from spiritual pride and assist us in avoiding mistreating others who have fallen into sin and instead helping them being restored to fellowship?

 

DAY SEVEN

 

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

 

In this verse we see Paul grace the life of the Thessalonian Christians with godly words of blessing. He describes Jesus Christ as the Lord of peace and offers up a prayer for his fellow followers of Christ that God will grant them peace in EVERY circumstance. He follows this with another gracious request of God; that Jesus Christ will be with all of them. These are not empty words of encouragement; they are words expressing verified doctrines of truth that are written with the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. All Christians have access to God’s peace in all circumstances and our Lord is present with us at all times because His Holy Spirit indwells us as believers. The Lutheran Commentary on Letter to the Ephesians: Voigt, Horn, Jacobs gives us a Christian definition of our peace in the Lord. It is, “The calm mind that is not ruffled by adversity, overclouded by a remorseful conscience or disturbed by fear.”

 

* Do you experience the peace of God continually as Paul states it here? If not, what intrudes on godly peace in your life? How can the following actions help bring peace to your life; praying to God, studying God’s Word, fellowshipping with other Christians.

* Read Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” In this verse the word “rule” is the Greek word “brabeuo” and means “to rule, govern, prevail or arbitrate.” This verse is the only time this word “rule” is used in the New Testament. The meaning of this Greek word in English will give you an idea of how the peace of Christ can work in your life. When you face a difficult time God’s peace can rule your heart. When you are fearful of the results of medical tests, God’s peace can govern your emotions. When you are in a tense situation with another individual the peace of God can help you arbitrate the situation for a peaceful outcome. The peace of Christ can govern how you think, it can prevail over your emotions in difficult times, and it can arbitrate for you in a conflict and rule your life in such a way that you will not be nervous, anxious, fearful or fretful. If you struggle with having the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ, let your requests for peace be made known to Him (Philippians 4:6) and His peace which is beyond anything we can imagine will guard your heart and mind (Philippians 4:7). List the situations that cause you to lack peace in your life. Make a commitment to focus on the love of Jesus Christ in these situations. Memorize scriptures on peace that you can call to mind in such situations. Consider sharing your lack of peace with a Christian friend and have them pray for you during stressful and emotional times, that God will give you peace.

 

“17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write.”

 

Verse 17 gives us the response Paul had to the possible forged documents that were being passed around by his enemies and the false teachers. He signs this letter in his own words and in his own handwriting. Often Paul would use a scribe or secretary who would write down his words. Some theologians and historians think that Paul may have had poor eyesight (possibly his thorn in the flesh). But there were times when Paul would take the writing implement from the scribe and write with his own hand. This he did in this instance to give an example of his handwriting so when the Thessalonians received his letter, they could compare the writing to the forged letters and know which letters to consider truly as God’s Word shared through Paul.

 

* False teachers and enemies of the Gospel of Christ still exist. They attack the Truth of God by twisting scripture to fit their beliefs and promote them to the general public. They also add false teachings to the Gospel to attempt to lead people astray. This stresses the point that as followers of Christ we need to be in the Word on a regular basis as well as attending church and small Bible study groups so we can be ready to defend the Gospel and protect our own faith. Do you study scripture on a regular basis, attend a small group fellowship and attend church to hear godly preaching? If your answer is no to any of these suggestions, I would recommend you make a commitment to begin following these guidelines. This is not only for your own spiritual benefit for growth in your faith, but to also protect your faith from deceptive attacks.

 

“18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”

 

Paul ends his letter with a benediction of grace. While it is a simple Christian blessing, it contains HUGE amounts of Christian truth for our soul.

 

* By God’s grace you are saved. Right now say a prayer of thanks to your Heavenly Father for His grace in your life which allows you to be a spiritual child of His.

* By God’s grace you continue to be saved because your salvation can never be taken or stolen from you. Right now say a prayer of thanks to your Heavenly Father for giving His only Son Jesus Christ to be sacrificed so you could have ETERNAL life based on God’s grace.

* By God’s grace you were given the Holy Spirit to live within you, to guide, convict and comfort you. Right now say a prayer of thanks to your Heavenly Father for giving you the gift of His Spirit to live within you.

 

Note: J. Vernon McGee shares an excellent story and some poignant thoughts that describe the life of a Christian as they wait for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

“We are to work while we wait. A gardener for a large estate in northern Italy was conducting a visitor through the castle and the beautiful, well-groomed grounds. As the visitor had lunch with the gardener and his wife, he commended them for the beautiful way they were keeping the gardens. He asked, “By the way, when was the last time the owner was here?” He said, “It was about ten years ago.” The visitor asked, “Then why do you keep up the gardens in such an immaculate, lovely manner?” He said, “Because I’m expecting him to return.” He persisted, “Is he coming next week?” The gardener replied, “I don’t know when he is coming, but I am expecting him TODAY.” Although he didn’t come that day, he was living in the light of the owner’s imminent return. The gardener wasn’t hanging over the gate, watching down the road to see whether his master was coming. He was in the garden, trimming, cutting, mowing, weeding, and planting. He was busy. That is what Paul is talking about when he says we should be established in the work of the Lord in view of the fact that He is returning.”