Friday after Populus Sion, The Second Sunday in Advent
Posted on December 9, 2022 by under
Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 (NKJV)
3:1 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.
Devotion
Our Lord Jesus taught us to pray, “Deliver us from evil…” Many times we think of this “evil” as bodily harm, death, loss of a loved one, or some other type of traumatic, unusual event. But St. Paul’s words remind us that we also pray to be delivered from “unreasonable and wicked men.” Satan, the evil one, constantly works through unfaithful and self-seeking people to antagonize the work of God and His Gospel. We need to be delivered from this evil as well.
It is a misconception that Christians are free to do whatever we want. People wrongly believe that once they are forgiven in Christ they can do, think, and say whatever seems right to them, as long as they go back to God and occasionally say “I’m sorry.” God is glorified when His Spirit and His Word work through us. When we observe His commands and walk in the good order of faith, mercy, and discipline, we confess with our words and deeds that His will is to be done, not ours. But the world and Satan would have us do otherwise. Evil entices us to find reasons for justifying our self-will.
Our Savior teaches us the better way. He directs us into the way of love and patience through the prayer He has taught us and through the Word and example that He has shown us in the whole counsel of His Scriptures.
Prayer: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Thine only-begotten Son, so that by His coming we may be enabled to serve Thee with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
