2 Thessalonians – Part 4

In 2 Thessalonians 3 I’m only going to comment on the first 5 verses because after that it’s really a repeat from 1st Thessalonians.

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

Again Paul asks people to pray for him. Sometimes prayer is all we can do. And we need to be doing it: for each other, for our church, for the nation and the world.

If Paul, great as he was, felt the need to ask others to pray for him, we can certainly do the same. When we put people on prayer concerns, let’s not just say a one time prayer. Let’s continue to pray for that person or those people or a situation until we see an answer. Write the prayer down. Keep a prayer journal. Pray daily. I think that’s what God is trying to teach us to do.

I read a commentary written in the 1950’s that said, “We live in a world where there are more nervous breakdowns than any time in history.” And that was 60 years ago! I think since then more and more people have the feeling that they cannot cope with life. While we may think we can’t possibly take on someone else’s burdens on top of our own, by praying for them, which focuses us on Christ, it gives us His power and endurance, which gives us strength to face our lives at the same time as we’re praying for others.

There’s power in prayer!