“Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” 2 Thess. 3:1-3
Devotional Thought For The Day
Because “Christianity” has generally been “safe” in lands with concepts of religious freedom, Christians in the West have not had to contemplate God’s hand in protecting them from the “wicked and evil men” among the unbelievers. We have generally only had to face disagreement, disapproval, and perhaps some demeaning from the “intellectuals, sophisticated, and well educated” unbelievers – and some of their mindless followers [toadies], who join in their criticisms without really knowing what they are talking about. Of course, often our “intellectual” critics are rather naive about philosophy, about their own presuppositions and “faith,” and the fallacious ways in which they attack Christian faith. Still, we have generally been safe from threat of violence and death at the hands of wicked unbelievers.
Sadly, although we have had freedom and safety to speak the Word of God to others, to tell them of God’s love in Christ Jesus, often we have allowed other considerations to “shut” our mouths – whether peer pressure, the desire to fit in and not bring negative attention to ourselves, or fear that Christianity cannot bear the scrutiny of the modern intellect, or that we will not be up to adequately defending the faith. We have allowed these considerations, and perhaps “political correctness” to overrule our desire that the Word of God “speed ahead” and be honored by others – and more importantly, the compulsion of love to share the peace and joy of knowing God’s gracious forgiveness and salvation in Christ Jesus with others. So the Word’s progress has been slowed, and many have drifted into unbelief, some into hardened unbelief, and we now recognize how important it is that the Word spread – but the social and cultural climate has grown colder, and the push back of unbelievers more aggressive.
So we must rethink, and learn what Christians in hostile and godless environments have known all along – that “the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” This is not to say that we will be insulated from all attacks and nastiness; no, we are warned that this will come our way just because of our association with the Name of Jesus. However, the forces of evil will not be able to knock us off of the foundation, or to do any lasting harm – as we convey the Word of God to others and speed it along. In fact, many will come to honor it, for “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” [Rom. 10:17] He is no less faithful in all that He has promised here in America; just as He is protecting and preserving His church which is spreading His Word in Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific Rim, and elsewhere, so He continues to protect His people here.
The circumstances of life in recent years have made the importance of being faithful to the Lord much clearer, and have also made much simpler and compelling our need to spread God’s Word. We should indeed pray that His Word speed ahead and be honored by more and more, and we must grow in faith and trust that God will indeed establish and guard us from the evil one. His attacks daunt us less and less as we experience God’s providence and protection, so let us also be bold and intrepid in sharing the good Word of God’s gracious love and mercy with others!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, forgive us for the many times when we have been fearful or ashamed of speaking Your Word to others. Help us in these daunting times of increased unbelief and wickedness to grow more eager and courageous in speaking Your Word to others. Keep us firm in our faith, that it is not only defensible intellectually, but that only the fool denies Your existence and our need for Your forgiveness and love. We too pray that Your Word speed ahead, that it be honored more widely as Your kingdom grows. Amen.