MEDITATIONS
FROM PAUL’S EPISTLES
June 4 , 2008
Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard
you from the evil one” 2 Thessalonians 3:3
“We stand no longer than God holds us up;
unless he hold up our goings in his paths, our feet
will slide, and we shall fall” Matthew Henry.
How much we rely on the faithfulness of God. If it were not for His
dependability not one of us could persevere or endure against the opposition of
the evil one. What does it mean to be established? The Greek word is also
translated as steadfast, set, strengthen,
and is from a word that is also translated as sure.
“But may the God of all grace, who called us
to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect,
establish, strengthen, and settle you” 1 Peter 5:10.
Without the faithfulness of God to strengthen us with His strength our
spiritual backbone would soon crumble. To change the allegory:
“But
let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind” James 1:6.
One of my favorite songs in children’s Sunday School
began: We have an Anchor that saves the
soul, Steadfast and sure while the billows roll. Anchored firm and deep in the
Savior’s love, My anchor holds though the storm be
rough.
The scriptures are filled with examples of God’s people crying out to
be strengthened by Him. David pleads with God “Strengthen me according to Your word” Psalm 119:28.
“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the
feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, ‘Be
strong, do not fear!’” Isaiah 35:3-4.
In his final message to the Children of Israel and his successor
Joshua, Moses stressed that they should be “strong and of good courage”
Deuteronomy 31:6,7,23. When Moses died God continued
with the same message—Joshua 1:6,9,18;
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear
nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the one who goes with you.
He will not leave you nor forsake you” Deuteronomy 31:6 see also 31:8,23; Joshua 1:9,17;
Paul reminded the Thessalonian Christians that “God from the beginning
chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the
truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of
our Lord Jesus Christ,” and “our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and
Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by
grace” On this basis He will also “comfort your hearts and establish you in
every good word and work” 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17.
Remember fellow Believer, your strength depends solely on Jesus’
faithfulness. He has chosen you, called you, sanctified you, loved you,
comforts you, and, if He has done all this for you, He will be faithful and
will “establish you and guard you from the evil one.”
“I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13.