Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Thursday after the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on September 16, 2021 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 (NKJV)
 
3:6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
 
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
 
13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.
 
Devotion
 
Rejection is one of the hardest realities to be confronted with in life! It starts at a very early age. Children never like to hear the word “no.” Adolescent boys never ask that certain girl out for fear of being rejected. Girls desire to be accepted into a clique of friends, and when they get overlooked or turned away it hurts deeply. Getting fired causes anyone the hardship of heavily doubting their abilities, and also brings the loss of co-worker friendships. Having any relationship break up can certainly bring heartfelt pain.
 
God commands rejection (or shunning) for a reason: it gets one’s attention! This is revealed two times within this context. “…that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.” And the second time (just outside of our text) reveals the aim of the rejection: “And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed” (vs. 14).
 
God’s purpose for this shame is to bring repentance! The most important fear of rejection should always be from the fear of the Lord, or worse, the fear of losing the Lord your God! Thanks be to God for the restorative, fully atoning merits of Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins!
 
Prayer: O Lord, we beseech Thee, let Thy continual pity cleanse and defend Thy Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without Thy succor, preserve it evermore by Thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end.
 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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