Paul
the apostle asked the Thessalonian church members to pray for he and
his traveling companions. He desired for “the
word of the Lord to have free course, and be glorified” and
to “be delivered from unreasonable and
wicked men: for all men
have not faith”. He knew the “Lord
is faithful, who shall establish” the
Thessalonians, “and keep”
them
“from evil”. In chapter three and verse
four of his second letter to them, Paul shared how he and his
companions “have confidence in the Lord”
concerning them where we read:
And we
have confidence in the Lord touching you,
that you
both do and will do the things which we command you.
The
verse begins, “And we have confidence in the Lord
touching you,...” Paul began
with the phrase, “And we have confidence”
or “are persuaded, trust and are confident” “in the
Lord” which refers to “he
to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of
deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”
“touching you” or
“upon, on, at, by, before and across the church members”. Paul
and his companions' trust was in the Lord concerning the
Thessalonians.
The
verse goes on to say, “...that you both do and will do the
things which we command you.” Paul added, “that you”
which refers to the Thessalonian church members “both do”
or “make ready, prepare, produce, bear, shoot forth, acquire and
provide a thing for one's self” “and will do” which
means “in the future make ready, prepare, produce, bear, shoot
forth, acquire and provide a thing for one's self ” “the
things” or “that or what” “which we” which
refers to Paul and his companions “command you” or “order,
charge, declare and enjoin unto them”. Paul confidently knew the
Thessalonian church members would actually “do” what he
and his companions declared unto them.
When
we meditate upon Paul's words, we discover where he put his trust -
“in the Lord”. He knew “the Lord” was willing
and capable to keep the Thessalonian church members following the
“commands” which he and his companions gave them. Though
there were “unreasonable and wicked” men who were sowing
seeds of doubt and heresy, Paul knew the Thessalonians would follow
after “the things” which he and his companions gave to
them. We have been given great “commands” within this
letter as well, and if our “confidence” is “in the
Lord”, we will “both do and will do the things”
which we have read. May the Lord Jesus keep us living according to
His “commands” both now and in the future.
Next
time Paul asks the Lord to “direct”
the Thessalonians “hearts into the love of God”, so read ahead,
and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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