2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
Pray for Us
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.
The apostle reminded the sheep under his responsibility that he was praying for them and pleaded for them to pray for him as well. Why? So that the word of God, the gospel, might have free run among all those who heard and God would be glorified in the work it did in the hearts of men and women who were receptive to believe and receive the truth to salvation from sin. He also asked them to pray that he and his co-laborers would be kept from wicked men who have no faith and are set on their destruction for their testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:17). But the Lord is faithful! He is the one who delivers us from these and who grounds us in steadfast hope of unwavering trust in the face of all adversity and adversaries, including the Adversary set against all God’s people and who stirs up the multitude to attack and stop we who proclaim the state of their lost nature in sin and the answer of the good news of salvation by grace alone in Christ alone for God’s glory and not our own. Even Paul had this confidence in these Thessalonians who were initially at least not as receptive (Acts 17:11, 13) as the Bereans and some who were antagonists against Paul and his band of brothers. God had done a work among them to bring many to follow Christ faithfully and who now were attentive to the word of this letter for their encouragement against others now opposed tot them. Therefore, Paul had confidence by their acts and actions in the Lord as he saw their change by sanctifying grace. He ended by praying for their hearts to be directed into God’s love with Christ’s patient endurance in their testimony and service for the gospel’s sake. May we also pray these things for other believers as they pray for us that we all attain (Ephesians 4:13) maturity in unity to know and be like Jesus Christ who set the example as a man and answered everything for us with authority as God. The Lord is faithful to finish His work (Philippians 1:6) in each of His children! Continue steadfastly in prayer therefore.
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