2 Thessalonians 3
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. 5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
Christian friend, I hope you know I have been praying for you. I hope you have been praying for me in return. What are some things I pray to God on your behalf about? That you would be faithful to His commands, obedience to His commands, even when you are surrounded by others around who are not. Paul reminded the saints in Thessalonica that the Lord is faithful, He is the One who will grant them peace as they individually respond to His word.
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
One thing that we must remind ourselves about our Christian walk is that there are commandments we are to obey daily. The Bible should be the authority over our lives that directs our daily decision making unto what we do. There will be two types of Christians that surround you daily: either in the workplace, church, or at home. There will be strong Christians, and weak Christians. There will be spiritual Christians (faithful, obedient, being a notable example to others), then there will be carnal Christians (not-faithful, disobedient, not a notable example to others). What does God expect of us when we find ourselves in a situation surrounded by either of the two? Follow the example of the faithful, not the un-faithful.
12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
He does remind us of another important truth. Brother & sister carnal, brother & sister disorderly who are not following the traditions found in the Bible, the commandments found in the Bible are NOT our enemy. They're our family in Christ. Those of us who are stronger ought to keep admonishing them to obey the scriptures wheresoever their life-choices may be found contrary to the book. The Bible permits us to not have company with that individual who is being carnal in those areas but notice what it does not say: it did not say “Break fellowship, stop talking with them indefinitely, ignore them,” it says have no company. To company is to associate, to fellowship, to be in the presence of other’s etc. While they are in the act of their carnal living, we are permitted to have no company. But wherever they may be found sincere to respond to our admonition, notice, admonish them as a brother. How can we admonish if we are completely ignoring the weaker brethren in their attempts to imrpove? Ah, herein lies the balance to the Christian walk.
Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. 17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
The Lord is the key to keeping your heart joyful, peaceful, strong, loving, charitable, compassionate, in the midst of the carnal living amongst others. He alone is the source of our peace when we are surrounded by brother & sister disorder, etc. Rather than excusing ourselves from maintaining our walk upright due to the faults of others, we ought rather to continue in “well doing.” For those who are married, husbands and wives who may find the other “weak”, “carnal”, “disorderly”, your Lord already gave you commands on how to respond them in 1 Peter 3 & 1 Corinthians 7. “dwell”, “submit”, are some key words for either spouse who is the stronger of the two to maintain “well-doing” in the presence of the other. For the rest who are single or perhaps children, God gave His commands concerning your love for the body of Christ and other members Ephesians 6, Romans 12 & 1 Corinthians 12. Therefore, grow not weary in well doing Christian. Keep walking in the traditions found in the Bible, even though others around you may not be. Maintain well-doing in the presence of others for the sake of Christ and as fellow members of the body, because they are not our enemies, but fellow members of His body. Lastly, keep being the best example you can be for the other. We need more Christian brothers & sisters who can be good examples for others to follow. They all do not need to hold special titles, or special recognition, but their walks could be acknowledged as such for others to emulate for the sake of maintaining our walk with the Lord.
