Finally Brethren
By Charles Wages
"Finally brethren, pray for us,
that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is
with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for
all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and
keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye
both do and will do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your
hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ." (2 Thess.
3:1-5)
The Apostle Paul uses the expression
"Finally brethren" in his epistles to draw a conclusion to a
particular matter of great importance. This is "the rest of the
matter" until further instructions are given. These "finalities"
are of great importance to all of us as believers. What is the first of these
admonitions? "Pray for us."
This was his first and most needed
request of the Thessalonian believers. This request was not for personal
reasons, but for particular premises in the work of the Lord. The preeminent
result was "that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked
men." This showed there were people of this nature in Paul's time. The amount
and intensity of such men is prevalent in "our times" as well. Why
were these people so unreasonable and wicked? The answer is forthcoming:
"For all men have not faith!" Even today, there are some who have
"faith," but are not "faithful men."
It is wonderful that we are told:
"the Lord is faithful". However, we must be faithful to his Word. We
are told in this passage of Scripture that "the word of the Lord may have
free course and may be glorified, even as it is with you, and that you might be
delivered from unreasonable and wicked men." God's preservation is amply
seen in 2 Thessalonians 3:3, where we are told: "But the Lord
is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil."
The "finalities" of these
wonderful portions of Scripture is found in, "And the Lord direct your
hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ" (2 Thess.
3:5).
Remember Paul's admonition,
"Finally brethren, PRAY FOR US!"
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