Thessalonians - Part 18

2nd Thessalonians 3:1-5

The love of God steadfast in Christ

So, after Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy pray for the Thessalonians: “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen you in every good word and work.”

They ask the Thessalonians to pray for them:

3 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.

5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. 

Application

Although Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy finished their race many years ago, their God is the God of the living. They are with Christ in my mind.

Therefore, I occasionally pray directly to Jesus as my intercessor before God. Just as He is given precedence in 2 Thessalonians 2:16, should not we also?

“16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.”

 How should we pray?