Text:
2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 (ESV)
16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Observation:
I like seeing the big picture before I get the details. I also appreciate a concise summary. Today the one word is peace. Is it possible to have peace in this troubled world? Let’s think about it together.
Today’s focal passage works for me. I get what the Apostle Paul wrote in concluding his letter to the church at Thessalonica. He left them with three encouraging messages.
- Benediction – Verse 16
- Final Greeting – Verse 17
- Prayer for Grace – Verse 18
The Apostle Paul had a great affection for the people he wrote this letter to. The keyword in our focal passage is peace. People who are under persecution need peace. Notice the words Paul used, “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times”.
Earlier in the letter Paul said this about them:
2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 (ESV)
3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
These people were people of faith, and in the midst of the persecution, their faith was growing; also, their love for one another was growing.
The people who God lives in have faith, love for one another, and the peace of God all the time. The peace that God gives no one can take from you. Does the Lord of peace live in you?
Prayer:
Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven.
Father, I pray that Your people will learn to trust in You with their whole heart, and draw nearer and nearer to the Lord of peace, who can give us peace all the time, and in every way. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
