Jesus Christ, Our Faithful Lord (2)

The Apostle Paul asked the church at Thessalonica to pray for him, that the Lord would bless the ministry of the Word of God. The reason that Paul was in need of prayer was due to evil men, who opposed him and his fellow servants of the Lord; they were ones who sought to discredit and marginalize their apostolic witness. These opposers of the gospel did not possess “the faith.” Paul characterized them as “unreasonable and wicked men.” But in contrast to these unfaithful men, Paul declared that “the Lord is faithful” (v. 3). It is to this blessed truth we gave our focus last Lord’s Day. Paul then declared that the faithful Lord would also be faithful to them. Paul said that the faithful Lord would establish them and guard them from “the evil one.” Moreover, this faithful Lord will continue to enable these Christians to live in obedience to the Word of God, which had been taught to hem through the apostles. Paul closed the opening paragraph of this last chapter by appealing to the Lord Himself that He would direct His people into “the love of God and into the patience of Christ” (3:5). It is to this verse that we will give our attention today.