Devotional Thoughts: Direct your hearts to Christ's perseverance

Previously, I wondered about the ratio of verses in 1 and 2 Thessalonians that were about the future and which were about the here and now.

Here is a quick look:
I Thessalonians verses that appear to be about the future
Chapter 1: 1 verse of 10
Chapter 2: 1 verse of 20
Chapter 3: 1 verse of 13
Chapter 4: 6 verses of 18
Chapter 5: 12 verses of 28.
II Thessalonians verses that appear to be about the future
Chapter 1: 6 verses of 12
Chapter 2: 12 verses of 17
Chapter 3: 0 verses of 18.

Thus, 39 verses out of 136 which is about 29%.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5:

Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you.

We need that prayer today just as much as Paul needed it then. With all our modern communication technology, the message of the Lord can spread so many ways. But even with all the technology in hand, the message is not just words but it is carried about by you and me. If I sit here and blog about the message of the Lord, is it done so in a clear, intelligent and attractive manner?

When I live my life can people see it even without my words.

There is a quote from St. Francis:

Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.

And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

There is evil in this world. As much as moral relativism is such a common thing among people these days, when push comes to shove, most people will eventually have to admit that evil exists. I suppose the realization that is hard for many of us is that we think of "big evils" out there and overlook our own "little evils."

In Paul's day, following Jesus was a risking thing and so prayers for protection and deliverance took on a practical urgency. In our world today, there are places where this is still true.

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.

Where does Paul's authority come from such that he can say, you should do the things we command?

I suppose part of it could be his commanding presence?

We all know people who seem to have a certain aura about them such that they have the E.F. Hutton effect (an old advertising slogan for those too young to remember!):

When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen.

I also suppose some of the authority comes from the fact that the commands might simply be recitations of teachings from the Torah and Jesus' explanations and illustrations of those core teachings.

The prayer ends with a commitment of the Thessalonians to God's love which we all can grasp. But it also commits them to Christ's perseverance. That is an unusual phrase?

The Greek word for perseverance is Hupomone which is used 31 times in the NT. It is used 1 time in 1 Thessalonians and 2 times in 2 Thessalonians. It means: steadfastness, constancy, endurance.

Thus, just as one quality of God is love, another quality of God demonstrated through Christ is perseverance. Jesus came to earth on a mission to live, die on the Cross and be raised from the dead. He did so with steadfastness, constancy and endurance. Thus, in prayer, we can entrust each other into Christ's perseverance so that we too can live life with steadfastness, constancy and endurance.

Lord, may you spread your message far and wide through us and may some receive it and honor it and choose to follow you as a result. Lord, strengthen those of your faithful servants who face persecution in this world. Give them courage to endure and if possible deliverance but in all cases may they be lights in this world pointing to you. Lord, help me to be a vehicle of your love to this world and an example of single minded persistence to be like Jesus. Amen.