2 Thessalonians 3:2-3

Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:2-3

Dear God, I feel like this could really be misinterpreted by someone who would use a passage like this as a way to be confrontational with others who disagree with them. In our country, we have taken disagreement and turned it into attacks. We disagree with someone so we perceive their disagreement as an attack, and then we assume our job is to attack back. But that is not what Paul is talking about here. First, he’s talking about legitimate rescue from legitimate evil. He’s talking about being stoned, imprisoned, crucified, losing your possessions, etc. He’s talking about actual persecution, not the persecution as defined by 21st century Americans. What we as Christians have with our society is disagreements. As long as we keep attacking others with our opinions instead of loving them through them, we will not do one thing to change their mind.

One thing I need to study up on is “Critical Race Theory.” I need to understand what it is because it seems to have become a political flashpoint. People are for it or against it based on whether they have a “D” or “R” next to their political identity, but most do not know what it really contains. It’s like the person I was talking with a few days ago who was boycotting Coca-Cola. When I asked why they didn’t have their facts correct. In essence, they didn’t know why. They just knew someone they trusted had told them Coca-Cola was bad and they accepted it. Frankly, they were denying themselves a Coke product they enjoy for something that, if they really looked into it, might not be as big of a deal as they thought it was.

Father, guide me through your Holy Spirit. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see. Help me to look beyond the preconceptions and misconceptions that blind me to your truth, and see the world as you see it. Help me to be thoughtful. Help me to be diligent. Help me to be loving as I do my best to be the man you need me to be. Please forgive me for when I fail, because you know how much I do, indeed, fail.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

2 Thessalonians 1:3-6

Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.

2 Thessalonians 1:3-6

Dear God, why was Paul so proud of this church? Because they were accomplishing great things? Because they were fighting for their rights and influencing their community? No, because they were worshipping you through the legitimate harassment and persecution by others.

And who was persecuting them? The Romans? No, probably not. Or if the Romans were involved it was because the local Jewish church was behind it. So, yes, it was the local Jewish church who was most likely behind the persecution. And why? because these people were doing it wrong. They were blaspheming. They were teaching heresy. Frankly, from their perspective, their attitude is understandable. If I had been them, I’d have probably done the same thing. Going back to the Disney Princess Theology, I’m probably not the Thessalonian Christians in this story. I’m probably the old Jewish guard.

So how might I accidentally be making mistakes like this now? Or, on the other hand, is there any chance I bend too far in an effort to not be like them. Or, how do I need to be more like the Thessalonian Christians who are simply persevering in their worship for you in the midst of struggles? Frankly, as American Christians, hardly any of us know what persecution for our faith really looks like. We think that the government telling us not to meet in large groups (just like they are telling every other group in the country) is persecution. We are soft.

Father, I’ve asked a whole lot more questions than I’ve given answers here, but I think it’s important to remember that the odds are just as good that I am the persecutor as much as the persecuted. Either way, if I am the persecutor, please open my eyes so I can see. Give me mercy. Give me love. Give me grace for others. And if I am the persecuted (which I’m pretty sure I’m not), give me the right perspective that my life is no longer mine. It is yours, and I embrace whatever you have for me fully.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

Jeremiah 23:23-24

“Am I only a God nearby,”
declares the Lord,
“and not a God far away?
24 Who can hide in secret places
so that I cannot see them?”
declares the Lord.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:23-24

Dear God, this is one of those passages that gives me hope and demands worship. It gives me hope because it reminds me that you are omnipresent, and you care enough to be omnipresent. You could have the power to be here and not use it because you don’t care, but you are here right now because you do care. Now part of that is the fact that I cannot hide anything from you. There are no secrets from you no matter how hard I try. And yet you still love me. You still care enough to be here and be present. You still care enough about me to know everything about me.

Father, I’m sorry for letting you down so often, but I worship you and I thank you that you are with me anyway. Be with those I love in the same way. Be with our community. Be with our nation. Be with our world. Love richly and give us what we need. And if what we need to be brought to you is some suffering and humility, I humbly submit to whatever path you have for me to get me where you need me to be.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

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

Dear God, what would I do if there were honest to goodness persecution of Christians in our country? What would I do if the shoe was on the other foot right now and the movement around our country had to be for “Christian Lives Matter” instead of “Black Lives Matter” because we didn’t have racial discrimination but religious discrimination?

I read this passage this morning and my first thought was that I am so soft. I’ve always enjoyed the life of the majority. I’ve been in the dominant racial group and the dominant religious group. In fact, other than a little bullying growing up, I’m not sure I’ve ever really had to fear other people. I don’t know what it means to suffer or have to struggle to survive.

But what if? What would it be like to be judged by every person the instant they looked at me? What if, as the Jews did in Hitler’s Germany, I had to walk around with a cross emblazoned on my shirt, and then a good percentage of people who saw that judged me and some even harassed me? What if I woke up this morning nervous about driving to work?

Father, I heard a podcast last night of black sports journalists talking about their experience with black athletes and being black professionals in a field where there are very few people of color. I need to go back and find the exact quote, but one of them said something to the effect of, “To the people who say that racism is a lot better than it used to be and it’s not that big of a deal anymore, I first as, ‘Are you white?’ And then I ask, ‘Do you have black friends and do you spend any significant time talking to them about this issue?’ ” Well, I get that there is still racism, but I still have no idea what it’s like to start each day behind the eight ball. To look at my children and know that their opportunities are limited and their lives could be in danger because of their skin color. I’m so sorry for those that do have to face that every day. Please show me how to use the advantages I have to affect change for them.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Dear God, I think of two things when I read this. First, we are supposed to pray for things like blessing of the work you’ve called us to and protection from others. I probably don’t pray for specific things enough.

Second, the idea of having a “full understanding” and exuding an expression of your love, and then having patient endurance. I really like the phrase “patient endurance.”

I have several things happening today. I will address at least three groups throughout the day. While I am talking to all of them, I do pray that your Holy Spirit will completely fill me and express your love to those listening. One of my presentations is supposed to inspire people. One of them is to thank group of people and help them experience joy from their decision to partner with our group. And the third is to honor someone and give them a service award. The only way I will do justice to any of the three is if my heart is a complete expression of your love.

Father, please lead me into being all yours today. Help me to understand you a little better and worship you. Provide for what you know I need to be what you need me to be. Do it all for your glory and so that your will might be done on earth as it is in heaven.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

2 Thessalonians 3:1-3

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you. Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer. But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-3

Dear God, I look at the first couple of verses in this passage and I wonder what the “Lord’s message” is. Is Paul simply referring to salvation through Christ, or is he referring to the whole message of repentance, grace (both received and extended) and love? Is he referring to worshiping you?

I had a dream last night that I came across a person who was following their boss and crying. It was more than I could take so I got the person away from the boss and asked what happened. She and another person told me the boss was very mean to her that morning. I then asked the boss to meet with them and I got all over the boss (not in a healthy, constructive way, but in an angry, loud way) for not simply being kind. Frankly, my response to the boss wasn’t very kind either. It was obvious to me after I woke up that I have a lot of anger in me about all of the anger I see around me. It’s starting to feed on itself.

I heard about a situation this week when a business owner had a member of the President’s staff in their establishment and they asked them to leave because they don’t like the President, his staff, or their actions. As I thought about it this morning, this person allowed their anger to help further drive a wedge between people instead of taking the opportunity to say something like, “Mrs. XX, I love my country and I love you as a fellow person. You are welcome here any time. And while I have you here, I just want to express my concern. What I see you and the President doing [insert your concerns here].” This would have been so much more constructive than me reading about the incident of anger and rejection in the news.

Father, let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Help me to turn loose of my anger. Guide me in addressing the challenges that are around me. Whether they are work, family, or whatever, it starts with submitting to you, receiving your grace, extending your grace, and being about loving others as well as I can.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen