2 Thessalonians 3:1-5: a reflection

1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, even as also with you, 2and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for not all have faith. 3But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you both do and will do the things we command. 5May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and into the perseverance of Christ.

As Paul writes to believers facing opposition and evil men, he turns their eyes from the threats to the faithfulness of God. But the Lord is faithful, he says, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. Whatever the threats they faced, the Lord was faithful, and would establish them, make them firm, and guard them from the evil one. Paul does not ground their security in their own strength or in the absence of danger, but in the faithfulness of the Lord, who would establish and guard them. Their security was in God's faithfulness, not their own; he would make them firm and keep them from evil, because he is faithful.

Notice where Paul grounds their security: in the Lord's faithfulness to establish and guard them. There were real threats, unreasonable and evil men, the evil one; but Paul turns their eyes to God's faithfulness. The Lord is faithful, and he would establish them, make them firm and steadfast, and guard them from the evil one. Their security lay not in their own strength to withstand, nor in the removal of the threats, but in the faithfulness of God, who would keep them. Because the Lord is faithful, he would establish and guard his people; their standing rested on his faithfulness. The faithful Lord would make them firm and keep them from evil; this was their security amid the threats.

That is worth resting in, for the Lord is faithful to establish and guard us, and this is our security amid threats. We face threats, opposition, the schemes of the evil one, and can feel our security depends on our own strength to withstand; but Paul grounds our security in the Lord's faithfulness, who will establish us, make us firm, and guard us from the evil one. Our standing rests not on our own strength but on God's faithfulness. When you face threats and feel unable to withstand, remember that the Lord is faithful, and he will establish and guard you. Rest your security amid threats on the Lord's faithfulness to establish and guard you, not on your own strength, as Paul says the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one; for our security lies not in our own strength to withstand but in the faithfulness of God, who makes his people firm and keeps them from evil, and because he is faithful, he will establish and guard those who are his.

Lord, as Paul writes to believers facing opposition and evil men, he turns their eyes from the threats to your faithfulness. But the Lord is faithful, he says, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. Whatever the threats they faced, you were faithful, and would establish them, make them firm, and guard them from the evil one. Paul does not ground their security in their own strength or in the absence of danger, but in your faithfulness. Show me where Paul grounds their security: in your faithfulness to establish and guard them. There were real threats, unreasonable and evil men, the evil one; but Paul turns their eyes to your faithfulness. You are faithful, and you would establish them, make them firm and steadfast, and guard them from the evil one. Their security lay not in their own strength to withstand, nor in the removal of the threats, but in your faithfulness, who would keep them. Because you are faithful, you would establish and guard your people. Let me rest in that, for you are faithful to establish and guard me, and this is my security amid threats. I face threats, opposition, the schemes of the evil one, and can feel my security depends on my own strength to withstand; but Paul grounds my security in your faithfulness, who will establish me and guard me from the evil one. My standing rests not on my own strength but on your faithfulness. When I face threats and feel unable to withstand, help me remember that you are faithful, Lord, and you will establish and guard me. Help me rest my security amid threats on your faithfulness to establish and guard me, not on my own strength.