Category Archives: Thessalonians

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DON’T BE A BURDEN


2 THESSALONIANS 3:8

“nor 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;” 

The only three times this word for “burden” is used in the New Testament, they are used by Paul. Once in 2 Corinthians 2:5, once in 1 Thessalonians 2:9 and then here in this verse. Paul did not in any way want to be a burden to those to whom he was shepherding. Whether it was what he was saying or doing, he wanted to spare them the obligation to care for him.

Unfortunately, too many believers today dump all their “stuff” on others. They guilt others into caring for them. I had an experience once when someone approached me to ask for money because they were “down on their luck right now.” When I told them I couldn’t help, they accused me of not being a Christian. Guilt!

APPLICATION

Teach your children to not be a burden. Teach them to carry their own weight. There is nothing wrong with asking for help. There is nothing wrong with receiving help. But we should never guilt someone into helping us. We should never cause someone else to feel obligated to take care of us. 

Your little Johnny or Susie may be one of those children who just oozes with mercy. Every time they see a person on the side of the road with one of those homemade signs asking for a handout, they beg you to give them some money. What a perfect teaching lesson. You must do what the Lord directs you to do but use that opportunity to teach this truth. Showing mercy is Christlike, but being an enabler is not.

If you have ever put your guilt on someone else to get them to give you something or care for you, repent. Then go and make that right. We need to follow Paul’s example of accepting a gift but not expecting or demanding it. Then the gift is truly a blessing rather than an entitlement.

Father, I thank You for friends and family who have come alongside me in the past. Help me pay it forward. But Lord, help me to be careful not to pass on any expectations to receive.

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OUT OF LINE


2 THESSALONIANS 3:7

“For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,” 

I have to admit that sometimes, when I was growing up, I could, well, get out line. I didn’t stay disciplined. I was the kind of kid to push the limits, to color outside the lines, to act out. It wasn’t that I was hurt and needed to rebel. I just wanted what I wanted when I wanted it. I didn’t care much who I hurt to get what I thought I deserved.

The phrase “we did not act in an undisciplined manner” is one Greek word (used only here in the New Testament) which means  “march out of order; riot, rebel, behave disorderly, neglect duty, careless (or idle) in habits.” Does that sound like you or your child? I pray that is not so.

APPLICATION

It seems we are always getting our children back in line when they are young. We are quick to correct them. Why? Because we know if we don’t, they will think that acting any old way is fine. We have to teach them to “march in line,” to behave and to drop careless habits.

I never enjoyed correcting my children. I never liked getting corrected. But I am thankful that I can pass down to my children the discipline of God’s Word. It is the ONLY thing that can truly discipline us. Make that a priority with your children.

If you find yourself in that spot of “undiscipline,” stop and allow the Holy Spirit in you reign. He will always act in a disciplined manner. But He will not force you to walk a certain manner or talk in a certain way or even love in a certain way. He must work through our free will to accomplish what He has for us.

There is no reason for me to act like the world, Father. Forgive me for not living as an example of Your love. I so desire to be seen as living only for you.

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LET’S PLAY KEEP AWAY


2 THESSALONIANS 3:6

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.” 

I know you’ve played that game. Am I right? Keep Away is one of those classic childhood games where someone is trying to gain control of an object while others pass it back and forth to avoid that person from getting it. It can go on for a long time. I have seen this game played all over the world. It may be called something else, but it’s the same game – Keep Away.

Paul is NOT talking about that. The word used here for that phrase (keep away) is only used twice in the New Testament, here and in 1 Corinthians 8:20. Both times it refers to us keeping ourselves protected from something. It means to withdraw from something, in this case an unruly brother. Notice he says “brother.” We are not to hang with those who say they are believers but live lives that are anything but holy.

APPLICATION

Children want friends. Sometimes they choose friends that are not good for them. These “friends” may even claim to love the Lord, but their behavior is disrespectful, disobedient and not Christlike. What do you do? You have to intervene. Your child will be influenced by others. You cannot stop that. But you can stop contact or association with those who would lead your children astray.

As your children get older, this gets a lot harder. They spend more and more time away from your presence and more and more time with their peers. That is why you must instill in them at an early age the need to choose friends who share their Biblical worldview and who want to follow Jesus. If you don’t, you are just asking for heartache and rejection.

So, who are you hanging out with? Is there someone in your life who you know it is not good to be around? Let me ask you a harder question. Are you that person who says one thing about Christ, but totally ignore His commands to live a righteous life? Should other believers be “keeping away” from you? Ouch!

Father, show me quickly if I do anything to cause another brother stumble. Let me protect Your reputation from evil influence in my life. I pray for those believers who struggle with righteous living.

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WHERE ARE YOU GOING?


2 THESSALONIANS 3:5

“May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.”

I don’t know about you, but those to destinations are just fine with me.  I want to be in the love of God. I certainly want the steadfastness of Christ. If I am embedded in those two, whatever comes my way can be handled in peace. When I know the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ, I can rest. All is good, no matter the storm around me.

Right now I am in the middle of a storm. It is not a storm I produced or invited. I was literally thrust into it. But it is such a joy to know that even in the very midst of the storm I can have peace. No matter how I am attacked or maligned or slandered, I can rest in the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ.

APPLICATION

Children need to know they are loved. As much as we love them, they need to know the love of God so much more. As you pray with them and read them His Word, remind them again and again of that truth.

Explain to your children how Christ’s steadfastness, His ability to bear up under, is theirs also. Because He is strong and He is in them, they can be strong. He is their strength. We aren’t. Friends aren’t. Only Christ. He will be all they need to bear the burdens they may be asked to bear.

What are you under right now? Do you feel His love and steadfastness? It’s there, if you are a believer. It’s there, if you trust Him. It’s there, if you surrender. Allow Him today to fill you with His love.  Allow Him today to be your rock and foundation.

God, You are all to me. Thank You for giving me Your love. Thank You for the steadfastness of heart You instill in me as I surrender to You daily.

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I TRUST YOU


2 THESSALONIANS 3:4

“We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.” 

Sometimes when you read a Bible verse in an English translation, whether it is from the Old or the New Testament, it just doesn’t get the original language’s message across. Today’s verse is like that. When you read “we have confidence,” you can understand that pretty well. But the phrase, which is one word in the Greek, says so much more.

This is the same word used to describe our faith in Christ. It’s the verb form of the word “faith.” But it is also in the Perfect tense. “Now, you are losing me, Carl.” Well, hang on! Perfect tense means it is complete with lasting results. So, ask yourself, “What does it mean that Paul had complete, ongoing faith in the Thessalonians to do and keep doing what he commanded them. It meant he completely and fully trusted them.

APPLICATION

Can your children trust you? Can they put their full and complete faith in you? If your answer is anything but “yes” you need to examine your heart. What is preventing you from being completely trustworthy? Most of the time it is our own selfishness. We put ourselves above others, even our children. But we can’t do that. 

You’ve heard the popular expression “I’m second”, right? Well, that’s wrong, if you are a believer. It should be “I’m third.” It should always be God first, others second and yourself third. In any other order and you have lost that trustworthiness. Reprioritize your life for the sake of your family. Put them above yourself. God will take care of you, if you put Him first.

“But Carl, if I don’t watch out for myself, no one else will either.” I am not suggesting that you don’t “take care of yourself.” I am suggesting that you don’t put yourself above all others. Humility leads to exaltation. God will raise you up when you lower yourself to Him. Today, be trustworthy. Do and continue you to do what you have been commanded by the Lord.

Today I bow before You, Lord. I want You to say of me that I am trustworthy. I want to be known as the person anyone can go to for a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on.

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MY BODYGUARD


2 THESSALONIANS 3:3

“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”  

Do you realize that when you surrender your life to Christ and invite Him into your life to save and redeem you, you get your own personal bodyguard? I don’t mean to reduce the Lord to a simple position like that, but He does step in to protect us from evil. The word “protect” has the idea of a military guard, someone who is actively and alertly protecting something or someone.

Jesus is ALWAYS on guard. He is never caught unaware. No one, not even Satan himself, can surprise the Lord. I love to watch military movies or dramas about covert actions. Someone always gets surprised. The whole idea of a covert action is to catch the enemy unprepared. Satan wants to deceive us (to catch us unguarded), but if we trust the Lord Jesus and walk with Him, He is the one who protects us. We just have to rest in Him.

APPLICATION

Have you ever played “King of the Mountain” with your kids? I used to love that game when I was a kid. Find a hill and select who will be “king” first. Then everyone else tries to take the hill and become the king. It can be a pretty rough game with lots of pushing and shoving and tackling. That’s why I loved it as a kid. 

The key to “survive” as the king is to keep your head on a swivel and stay very alert to any advancing “enemy.” The worse thing that could happen is to be caught from behind and shoved off the hill.  No one can stay “king” forever. It just gets too tiring to defend the hill.

But, oh, listen to me. Jesus IS the KING of every hill. He is able to defend you. There is no evil person who can harm you as long as He is there. So, stick close to Jesus. Let Him frustrate and confuse the enemy. He will one day slay him with the breath of His mouth. Jesus can handle this.

Once again, Lord, I place my life in Your hands. In the midst of intense battle with the evil one, I can depend on You to defend me. I trust You and You alone.

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QUICKLY NOW


2 THESSALONIANS 3:1

“Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;” 

Have you ever been told to “hurry up”?  I have been a few times. I remember in one of my first jobs in my hometown of Pelham, GA I had a boss who did not like you to “dawdle about.” He insisted that you stay busy and do the job quickly and efficiently.  He didn’t want us wasting time.

I thought of that when I read this verse because the phrase “spread rapidly” comes from a word that means to run with speed. It was used to describe runners in a race. Paul is asking the Thessalonians to pray that the Gospel would spread that quickly, that it would win the race, that it would reach its end result without delay.

APPLICATION

I bet you have never had to tell your children to hurry up, have you? Only about a million times, right? Be careful hurrying your children too much. Let them be kids. Let them enjoy their childhood. But when it comes to the things of the Lord, don’t let them “dawdle”, as my boss used to say. The things of the Lord need to be taken seriously. Time is hastening. The Lord is going to return. We need to be ready and make sure our children are also.

What does that mean? I am not talking about being in an apocalyptic mood all the time. But I am saying that we should not waste time on things that are simply temporal and of this world. We need to teach our children that every day is important to the Lord. Every day gives us a new opportunity to share the Gospel with someone. Run the race.

Are you too busy chasing the wrong things that you forget to run the important race? You should stop right now, wherever you are, and evaluate your race. Are you running to win or just finish? God wants us to run well, not just run. He wants us to be quick about it. Don’t sit around waiting for someone else to spread the Gospel. Get out there. Run quickly.

Father, forgive me for being seemingly unconcerned about the shortness of the time. Help me redeem each minute and count it worthy of service to You. I will commit to being more bold today in sharing the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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EAT YOUR SPINACH

2 THESSALONIANS 2:17

“comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.”

Were you ever a Popeye fan? I was growing up. I used to love to see Popeye eat his spinach and come back to win the fight. Olive Oil, his girlfriend, would fall in his arms, swooning over him. What guy doesn’t want that, right?  Unfortunately, I do not like spinach, so I guess I am out of luck, lol.

Seriously though, we are more than Popeye strong, if we take our “God spinach.” It is He who strengthens us. This word “strengthen” is only used 13 times in the New Testament. Four of those are in the letters to the Thessalonians. Paul is reminding them who strengthens them. He is reminding them that their faith is solely dependent upon Jesus, not some external source.

APPLICATION

How many times have you told your children to eat their vegetables so they will grow up to be big and strong? I bet that happens a lot. Some children love vegetables, while others look at a green bean like it is leprosy. It takes a lot of coaxing and bribing (I am not condoning that) to get them to eat those green things.  But you know they need them for good health.

Are you as concerned about them “ingesting” the Word daily? “Well, Carl, they have to decide that on their own.” Really? I know physical health is important, but so is their spiritual health. Remember, you are not just raising your children. You are raising your grandchildren’s parents. If you desire to see a legacy of faith continue into the next generation, you must be diligent to “feed” them what is truly important. God will take care of the strengthening part.

How is your spiritual health today? Are you eating your spiritual spinach? God will strengthen you as much as you allow Him. But you must ingest the proper ingredients. You must have a steady diet of His Word and spend time with Him. Then God can truly comfort and strengthen you in every good work and word.

God, feed me today. Give me the spiritual strength to defeat any enemy that comes my way. I know those victories all belong to You.

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ETERNITY NOW?


2 THESSALONIANS 2:16

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace,” 

Isn’t this a sweet, promising verse? We are promised His love, His comfort and His hope through grace. That’s a lot. And this is one of the few times that Paul mentions Jesus before the Father. That may not be important, but I thought it was just interesting. 

This comfort is not just normal comfort. It’s eternal comfort. Does that mean we only get this when we get to heaven? I don’t think so. Look at this definition of that Greek word for “eternal.” “Thus believers live in ‘eternallife’ right now, experiencing this quality of God’s life now as a present possession.”We can experience eternal comfort right now. Don’t you want that?

APPLICATION

Ask your little Susie how she would feel if when she got hurt you withheld comforting her until she grew up. I bet she wouldn’t like that. You wouldn’t kiss that boo-boo until after it was healed. That’s crazy, isn’t it? Now read your children this verse and explain that the same thing applies to God.

He is not going to withhold His comfort from them just because they are still here on earth. That comfort is eternal because it is ageless.  It covers all time. God is even in the process of comfort long before they (or we) even know they are going to need it. That’s pretty awesome, if you ask me. Eternal comfort lasts a long time. It begins the moment we receive his free gift of salvation and will follow us right into eternity.

Are you in need of comfort today? As I write this, I have several friends who are in need of great comfort. They are going through some very hard things right now. They need to know that the Lord is already at work in their life to comfort their hearts and give them love and hope through grace. Is there someone you need to remind of that today?

O Lord, help me share this great truth with someone who needs it today. Let me be the bearer of that eternal comfort through the Lord Jesus. Thank You for giving me that comfort and hope.

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KEEPING TRADITIONS


2 THESSALONIANS 2:15

“So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.”

Some families have long held traditions around the holidays. They may involve a meal or a prank gift or some other strange tradition unique to their family. Those are good things to have. They bind us together. They build memories to pass to the next generation.

But Paul wasn’t talking about Grandma Carter’s chocolate pie recipe when he said, “hold to the traditions.” He was referring to something much more important. He was talking about passing down the teachings and instructions they had received concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s a tradition worth keeping and sharing.

APPLICATION

At your next family gathering talk about your family traditions with your children. Make a list of them, if you have more than one. Maybe it’s time for you start some new ones. Maybe your children are grown and have families of their own. It is probably time for them to start their own traditions. Whatever they are, talk about how long you’ve had them and why you keep them. 

But most importantly, talk about the traditions you have in Christ and why they are important. Teach your children to hold these close and to pass them down themselves. I vividly remember going to my Grandma Carter’s house every Christmas and having a huge meal with all my cousins. Family is important, and our Christian family is even more important.

What are the traditions you are passing down? Do they include Jesus? Passing down your Christian heritage and history can encourage the next generation to carry on the fight. Helping them understand the importance of this faith legacy could be one of the most important things you do. Talk about it. Share it. Keep it.

Thank You for traditions in Christ. Thank You, Lord, for making me part of that heritage of faith. Help me teach the next generation more about You.

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