II Thessalonians 3:1-2 “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.”
Every work week has a Friday; every month has a last day. Profound, isn’t it? There is finality in many of the things we often overlook in our daily routine. Even in a week of revival meetings or a week of camp, there is always a final service. The first word of II Thessalonians 3:1 is timely for the end of a week, a month, and a year!
Paul made two appeals in II Thessalonians 3:1-2. The first appeal he made is “Brethren, pray for us. . . .” That is a pretty good request! I hope you would think to pray for us here at the Ranch; and you could certainly pray for your pastor, your church’s missionaries, and other good Christian ministries. I have been praying for people, for businesses, and for churches this year precisely because they were praying for me!
What could you pray for? Pray for power (“that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified”) and for protection (“that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men”). Not everyone we work with is reasonable and nice; sometimes they are just plain mean! Yet the ministry God has called us to (and called your pastor to) demands that we sometimes work with “unreasonable and wicked men.”
Paul’s second appeal is to “keep at it.” The Bible encourages us by saying, “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” Because the Lord is faithful, we should be too! Anytime I am less than faithful, I am not following the pattern that God gave. The Lord is faithful and just to forgive, and He is faithful to empower. He will give you exactly what you need in order to do exactly what He has called you to do! Just keep at it!
I could not say it any better than the way the Apostle Paul said it in II Thessalonians: “Finally, brethren, pray for us. . . .the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you. . . .” At the end of another week and another year, what a great reminder to pray for others and to keep at it!
Prayer Requests:
1. BRR Conference on Marriage & the Home today and tomorrow
2. Services this weekend in McMinnville, TN