2 Thessalonians 3:1-18
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,
2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.
3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.
5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;
8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,
9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.
11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.
12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.
14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.
17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
It seems like God’s reocurring message to me, is that He is faithful. As I read this morning, verse 3 popped out at me, “BUT HE IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL ESTABLISH YOU.”
While we have been born again into a wonderful body that provides an opportunity to grow together in the knowledge of Christ, there are some that may become more of a hindrance than a benefit in that body. It is actually a scheme of the enemy that he wants to draw everyone into, living out of the mind and feelings rather than from a passionate faith in Jesus. Paul mentions those evil and wicked ones that are encountered, but then he declares a faith statement over them, that they are not among the wicked ones, but they are established and kept from those evil tendencies. Instead, he directs them to exercise a discipline that refuses to tolerate or fellowship with the “disorderly” ones, but rather to lovingly let them know that an orderly and honorable conduct is the only one that will be acceptable.
In the keeping of faith, and trusting in the work of the Holy Spirit, it is helpful to recognize and follow after a conduct that is humble and protective of what we have in an established body. Not getting caught up in diversions that take us into disruptive actions, we can be directly connected with establishing unity and strength together in Him.