Daily Devotional Thursday 16th February 2023

by William Moody

2 Thessalonians 3

Pray for Us

3:1 Finally, brothers,1 pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,2 as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.3 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.4

13 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Benediction

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Footnotes

[1] 3:1 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 6, 13
[2] 3:1 Or glorified
[3] 3:3 Or evil
[4] 3:12 Greek to eat their own bread

(ESV)

Desiring to see these people remain steadfast in their faith, Paul not only speaks of their need of the Lord’s faithfulness but also their responsibility to avoid evil influences (v6-13). One of the great instruments of the early church to keep their people running on was discipline. Those who were drifting away from right belief or practice were warned and then distanced from by other believers. This may sound to us very severe but it was the God-ordained and very effective way of restoring the straying. Love at times needs to be very gentle, but at other times for openly sinful behaviour it needs to be very firm.

Paul could speak of disciplining Christians as his life was beyond reproach. His life was an example for others to follow (v7-9). Paul wants these people to imitate his life and not the lives of these lazy busybodies (v10-13). Do we imitate Paul or the busybodies?

In a final note regarding these busybodies he wants to protect against unloving discipline (v14-15). They must ‘admonish him as a brother’. The church can make the mistake of not admonishing or in doing it so as to treat the Christian as the enemy. Both must be avoided.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.