In our Men's Morning Bible study we were finishing our reading of 2 Thessalonians. I am continually amazed at the relentlessness of the Apostle Paul. This was a man who would never give up no matter what the odds. Almost every church God brought into existence through his preaching of Christ created some kind of controversy or opposition. But Paul expected this. As he said to the Thessalonians...
"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith." (2 Thessalonians 3.1-2)
"For not all have the faith." I love Luther's translation... "Denn der Glaube is nicht jedermanns Ding." In English that would be "Because faith is not every man's thing." How true that is. Every day we run into opposition and rejection. But this shouldn't discourage us. It should be expected, and it should propel us to prayer because God is the only one who can change a man's heart. Not only that, it should cause us to seek exactly what Paul was seeking... that "the word of the Lord may run swiftly..." The opposition is strong. Faith is not every man's thing. But God's answer to that has always been to continue sharing that word and praying for it's reception.
Dear Lord, thank You for bringing the word of salvation to us. Grant that it would be glorified in our lives and that faith would certainly be OUR THING. Give us a living faith that shows the Gospel, and bless the church in its mission to send the word out swiftly. In Your name we pray. Amen.
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