“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1)

God our Savior, Christ our hope and the Holy Spirit our comforter, one God, now and forever: cuts through the misconceptions that many have.  God is our Savior.  The salvation that Christ proclaimed as sufficient is our hope.  In Scripture, hope is not wishful thinking, but the assurance of what is unseen.  We have not yet seen our final salvation, but we hope and trust in what God has promised.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the word of the Lord is forever.

Lord, these words are so simple, but they are so profound.  Lead me, Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I learn to have hope as You give hope.  Teach me to take these things on Your authority.  Teach me to live into the understanding of the First Commandment in order that I would trust You above all things.  Teach me, Lord, so that I may truly be Your disciple and follow You.

Lord Jesus, You are my hope.  Until I see You face to face on the day of judgement I do not know You fully, but I do have trust and hope.  Yet, I also have faith.  Guide me, Lord, that I would forever hold fast to what You have said knowing that You are the One who saves.  Lead me in the way of truth and guide me to live into all that You have taught Your disciples.  In You alone, O Lord, is there hope and a future.  Amen.

“I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all” (2 Thessalonians 3: 17-18).

Are there those who try to forge another’s message?  It sure seems so.  We do not know the particulars, for the distinguishing mark is on the original letter which we do not have.  But trust that these things came from the Lord through Paul.  One does well if they listen to the word of the Lord no matter from whom it comes.  Listen and learn what the Lord will teach you.

Be guided by the Lord and do not get into the habit of dismissing something either because you do not understand what they are saying or because they do not make sense to you.  Trust that the witnesses of the Lord, who have stood behind these things, are an authority enough.  You believe other things on much less authority.  The Word of God is forever and the other things you see around you are temporary.

Lord Jesus, You have given us an eternal promise.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I may be guided by You in and through all things.  Help me to understand that in You is all hope.  In You is all life.  In You is the way of living.  You are truth.  Guide me, Lord, in the way I need to walk in order that I would trust those whom You send and live into the life which I am being taught how to live.  Amen.

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!” (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

Peace in every circumstance?  Yes, peace in every circumstance.  The Lord’s peace is not that all will necessarily be well around you, but that it will be well in you.  You are in the Lord and His promise can never be taken from you.  Therefore, do not worry about the circumstances as much as the truth that you are living in the promise of the Lord.  He who is faithful will fulfil His promises.

Lord, I want what I want, but You grant what You grant and the two are sometimes not the same.  Lead me into Your peace so that above all things I will trust you.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that You alone are our hope and stay.  Guide me into the peace that surpasses all understanding that amidst this world’s trials and travails I may be at peace with You and my neighbor.

Lord Jesus, no matter what was happening, You kept Your cool.  Lead me to learn from You in order that, no matter the circumstances, I need never doubt the hope You give us through Your grace.  Guide me this day to not be anxious, but to live into the hope and promise which is ours through You.  You are with me Lord and in You I have hope upon hope.  Grant me Your peace that I may always know this in every circumstance. Amen.

“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.  Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15).

Paul makes this point to the Corinthians as well.  Sadly, what is being said is very delicate and many will go to one extreme or the other.  Our behavior matters.  For one who does not think so, do not listen to them.  But you still should love them.  Continue to remind them that our behavior does matter.  In discipline, behavior, morals, and attitudes, this principle applies and should be applied to all who call themselves Christian.

Lord, grant me the grace to better understand the reality of what You are saying here.  I know there have been abuses by the church, but that does not mean I should go the opposite direction.  Being like Christ is not a suggestion, but the goal itself.  Guide me Lord to know that in You alone is all hope.  You have come so that we may live into the life You give us through grace.

Lord Jesus, help me to live the new life You have given me.  Guide me to see what is meant here and then lead me in grace to put this into practice.  According to Your Word, you love everyone, but there are those who will continue to do things the way they wish.  Lead me, O Lord, to know that it cannot be this way with me either.  Teach me how to behave both in private and in public.  Amen.

“Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.  But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good” (2 Thessalonians 3:12-13).

Do not grow weary of doing good!  In our hurried world we are pressured to move on to the next thing.  The wicked one is wearing you down.  Keep on doing what the Lord gives you to do.  Do not tire of what the Lord would have you do.  Work steadily and quietly according to what the Lord has given you to do and be satisfied with His presence and purpose in Your life.

Lord, You know where I am doing what You would have me do and where I am listening to the world.  Guide me away from the chatter of this world and into Your presence.  Guide me in Your goodness so that I would hold fast to Your Word and the admonitions You give me.  Help me do the work You give me to do and to quietly press on doing those things which are right in the Father’s sight.

Holy Spirit, You know me better than I know myself.  You know where I struggle and where I am not compliant with what You are saying.  Lead me Lord in order that I would eat by the work of my hand and live by the Word from Your mouth.  Let me not be caught up by this world, but by You who is my guide and strength.  Keep me steadfast and keep me from growing weary in the doing of good.  Amen.

“For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies” (2 Thessalonians 3:11).

Ah, let us not listen to this verse because there are too many around us to whom this applies.  We love them, so let us ignore this admonition.  No!  All the more in our day we should listen because this very thing is ripping the church apart.  We do not have because we do not ask and we do not receive because we ask with wrong motive.  Listen to the word of the Lord and know that in His word is truth.

Lord, help me to hear these words and first apply them to my own life.  Then, help me to hold fast to this truth knowing that what You tell us is for our good.  Whether in the church or the world, we will pay the price for sin.  Help me Lord to live according to Your word and to not be swayed by the habits of those in this world who are ignoring Your word.  In You alone is life.

Lord Jesus, You have come to empower us to walk boldly in You.  Help me today and every day to mind the business You give me and not the business You give others.  Guide me to live according to your Word so that I would now and always abide in You and You in me, doing what You give me to do each day.  Help me to live boldly in Your precepts despite what the world does.  Amen.

“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” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

Here is a principle for our time.  This is not speaking to those who are unable, but to those who are.  There are many who are lazy and are willing to let others take their portion of the work.  It ought not be this way amongst those who follow Christ.  Each should do their part.  It is not cruel to not give to the one who is belligerent.  If you are going to partake, you should do your part.

Lord, this is one of those things that is hidden amidst the wickedness of our age.  In the name of compassion, we give away the house.  Teach me, O Lord, that only in You can we find goodness and mercy.  Only in You can we find temperance and hope.  Lead me Lord in the way of living this life that You have given me so that I may do the work You give me to do while it is day.

Lord Jesus, You came and served and did not ask to be served.  Now that You have served us, You ask us to serve others in Your name.  Teach me how to give to others so that when I partake of what You have done for us, it may be sweet.  Lord, You have created balance in the universe and no one is exempt from living in that balance.  Lead me, Lord, to live a life of common sense and balance.

Lord Jesus, You have done what we could not do for ourselves.  You have not asked us to treat You as the king You are, but to serve the least of these as if we were serving You.  Lead me in this way so that I may know the truth that only when I do what You ask do I receive the heavenly food that You give.  Help me to model this in my daily life and to live consistently in You.  Amen.

“[N]ot 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” (2 Thessalonians 3:9).

There are freedoms we have in Christ where we may do something, but the higher principle of asking whether it is profitable takes precedence.  In a way, we are called to become partners in the Gospel.  That is, to seek to do the greatest amount of good we can.  You have been called to offer yourself as a model in your community of godly and good behavior.

Take the challenge and live into the role the Lord has given you.  Know that in Him there is freedom, but use this freedom wisely.  Be guided not by your own desires, but by the desire to see the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus expanded.  Learn to follow the example of those who lead the godly life, be an example for those who do not yet know Christ and do all of this for His glory.

Lord Jesus, You sent Your disciples out two by two in order that they would reach out to the world with the truth of salvation.  Guide me Lord in the way of truth so that I would be one of those who seek to serve You always.  Lead me in Your goodness in order that I may be an example for others.  Make that example you create in me consistent and faithful to You so that I may bring no shame and lift up Your name, Amen.

“[N]or 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” (2 Thessalonians 3:8)

The tempo is increasing as more and more people want more and more things without thinking about who will pay for them.  The infection has come into the church as well.  The real question is whether you are doing your part; not more, nor less, but your part.  It is always good to seek to be a good steward both of time and talents as well as of the mysteries of the faith.

Lord, I know these things.  But just because I know them does not mean that I practice them.  Help me Lord to know that in You is all hope.  Help me to understand that I too must do my part. You have called me through faith and in grace to live into the new life You give me in Christ.  Help me live that life, doing what I can do and learning what it means to be a good steward.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life freely and abundantly.  Guide me Lord in the life You have given me knowing that You paid the price I could never afford, but to not treat it as a cheap nothing.  Help me do my part.  It is not so much how much I do, but that I do what I do with all I am able for the sake of the kingdom.  Lead me to learn how to apply these things in accordance with the Father’s will.  Amen.

“For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you” (2 Thessalonians 3:7)

The Christian life is a disciplined life.  These things are not said without reason.  Yes, there are those who can take these things too far.  We are not to become Pharisees.  But we also do not need to be all things to all people.  That is the same as being nothing to no one, including ourselves.  Come then and humbly walk with the One who has saved you and live with self-discipline.

Lord, this world is often undisciplined.  Help me to be one who is disciplined in the way that You have modeled through the saints.  Guide me to humbly walk with You always and to apply these things knowing that to do so is wisdom.  Lead me in the upright way and help me to be an example to others that I might live this life You have given me through grace and in faith.

Come Holy Spirit and minister to my inner life.  You know where I struggle.  You know where I give in to the pressures of this world.  You know where my heart is not right.  Lead me through these things so that I would not just be an outward example of Christianity, but also inwardly faithful as I am in outward appearance.  Through all things, continue to encourage me in the way of Christ so that I too would be a faithful example of Christianity.  Amen.