He Directs Us

 

DEVOTION

THE 2^ND LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS

HE DIRECTS US

2 Thess 3:1-5

3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.

NIV

We are coming to the closing statements and there are still some short and sweet sayings that give us reason to spend time looking into. The word, the gospel has spread all over the world and it seems it has happened fairly rapidly, but then it has been some two thousand years since the gospel happened. We do honor it, we revere its message for the gospel tells us about our salvation, it contains the very words of our Lord and how he suffered on the cross in order to take away our sin once and for all. How could we not honor that message? Paul also wants prayer that he and his companions would be delivered from wicked and evil men. He says that not everyone has faith. So then we would have to conclude that if a person does not have faith in Jesus Christ for their salvation, that is they are not born again, then they would be considered by God as wicked and evil men. There are plenty of them still around today and that includes those who would fill positions in government. We know there has been and still is a certain among to persecution against Christianity among some of the leaders of our country. We certainly need that prayer that we would be delivered from those wicked and evil men and women who are opposed to the truth of the gospel message. We can be sure they lack faith in the Lord, but we also can be certain that God is always faithful and He will ensure that we are not harmed by those who would oppose the message. God puts a hedge of protection around us. He isolates us from their evil attempt to cause us harm. We put our faith in the one who is faithful and we are confident in his faithfulness. He has never failed to keep His hand on our lives. He is never going to leave us nor forsake us, he will always be with us, even onto the end of this age and then we will forever be in his presence. We always keep this in mind and it gives us a peace that passes all understanding. We have a calmness within our hearts and mind, no matter what happens in this life. God also directs our hearts, of that we can be sure. However, we must be open at all times in his direction, we cannot close him out because we want to do something. We must know that we are and will be doing that which he directs us. His word is light onto our feet, he shows us the way we should go or the place we should stay. Just as he led the children of Israel through the desert by the pillar of fire and smoke. When it halted, they pitched their tents, set up the tabernacle, and stay in that one place until the pillar began moving and then they packed up and followed. God directs us much in the same way, as he moves us at times and then he has us pitch our tents and camp out for as long as he directs. He can do that in every aspect of our lives, as to where we live, where we work, and where we gather together to worship. He also can and does direct us to certain people in order for us to have some impact on their lives. He directs us as to what part of the body of Christ we are to be, where we fit into his plan, and how we are to minister to others. Most of all he directs our hearts into his love and his perseverance in our lives.