Trusting God's Faithfulness to Carry Me (2 Thessalonians 3)

Evening Scripture

2 Thessalonians 3
"As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.

Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.

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

I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all."

Evening Reflection

In life, it’s easy to get sidetracked, especially from what God has called us to do. Discouragement, inactivity, disappointments, can all lead us at times to wander off from the pathway He has set before us. Often, we may start thinking we must have misunderstood what God wanted us to do because our faith and hope have somewhat waned from when we first set off full of spiritual expectations. But getting sidetracked and preoccupied with other things that absorb our time and attention, caught up in the affairs of the world, is the devil’s way of distracting us, thinking we won’t catch on to his deceptive schemes.

Still, we aren’t beyond God’s reach and His ways of drawing us back to His plan, faithful to us even when we seem to get off-track for a time. We can trust Him to carry us through the bumps, distractions, disappointments, and dry periods in life and in our faith, where the enemy of our soul tries to convince us God doesn’t care, hear, or answer the cries of our hearts.

Evening Prayer

God,
Lead and help me to stay on the pathway You have set before me, to let Your unfailing faithfulness carry me at times when I have wandered away from Your call on my life. Fortify and deliver me, as You’ve promised, from the evil one and from the waywardness of sinful men and women who seek to lead me astray and to abandon my faith in You. Teach me to live out my faith and to be steadfast like Paul and all those who have remained faithful to Your word. Convince my heart to count on Your faithfulness to carry me through, as they did before me, modeling it in their own lives. Keep me from getting off track and becoming idle or disruptive. Strengthen me to never tire of doing good so that others around me will choose to follow Your ways and live in obedience to Your word. Help me to spread Your message rapidly, so that You are honored. Fill me with Your peace at all times and in every way.
Amen.

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