(REFLECTIONS ON 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18)

As a continuation from 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul and his colleagues encouraged the Thessalonians to follow in the ways of the traditions of the Christian faith that they received from them. These traditions are the traditions left behind for us from the prophets and apostles in Holy Scripture.

And these are the instructions from Holy Scripture,

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

May it be the Lord that ultimately directs our hearts, not just leaning on worldly traditions, cultures of the past or present, or other disciplines like philosophy and psychology, but the Lord Himself. As the Lord directs our hearts, He will lead us into the love of God.

The other things, the worldly traditions, cultures, other disciplines lead us to the love of self and the world, but it is the Lord that direct our hearts into the love of God, and into the steadfastness of Christ.

The love of God speaks of our heart, our attitude, our focus, and the steadfastness of Christ refers to our endurance, a faith that will trust and believe until our very last breath, and speaks to the journey of living a life of faith in the world. 

One of the challenges that the Thessalonians faced were believers that either heard and believed that Christ had already returned, or that since Christ was returning shortly that they didn’t need to concern themselves with the daily responsibilities of life.

However, part of our faith after believing, is a life of faith in the world, in our work, and in our daily living. As we anticipate and hope for Jesus’ return, we are not to do so irresponsibly, but should take the gift of life that Jesus has given us to bring glory to His name while we wait.

The question for us is what do we do with the time we have left on earth? Let us not skip the journey between belief and Jesus’ return, like some of the Thessalonians were doing. Let this not be an excuse for us to not contribute to society, to the church, and to influence those around us and in the world.

We are called to do the good works of God in an unbelieving world, and to share the Gospel so that more can come to know Him. Let us be trained and discipled, so that we can continually be molded and shaped by Christ, from believers, to His disciples.

Just as Jesus called His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20 to “…Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you,” so are we to do in the time and space between belief and Jesus’ return.

Jesus didn’t tell us through the traditions of Holy Scripture to lead people to believe and just wait idly by for His return, but to make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and to teach them.

This is our life of faith in the world. This is the journey that we are on, it is a process, a discipleship making process, and a journey of growth, maturity, and sanctification.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: 2 Thessalonians 3