II Thessalonians 3:1-18

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1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.

6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers and sisters, to keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it.

On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "Anyone who is unwilling to work shall not eat."

11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. 14 Take special note of those who do not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard them as enemies, but warn them as fellow believers.

There were two issues this second letter to the Thessalonians addresses. The first is the issue of when the end of the world was to be. There was much confusion about this and it has been addressed earlier.

The second issue is that there were certain Thessalonians who were looking for the end of the world to come and therefore moved into a pose that took away any motivation to live in the here and now, so they didn't work.

It's interesting to note the instruction here is to mark those who refuse to work, because they have a tendency to be busybodies when they are not busy. The Thessalonians were told not to associate with this kind of person in order that they might feel ashamed. Then the caveat is given to treat them as fellow believers and not as enemies.

The primary example here is how the trio acted among the Thessalonians. They worked with their hands so that no one had to be burdened with supporting them. Wow, if more of this attitude were inculcated into the thinking of the followers of Jesus today, maybe the masses wouldn't be as turned off with the "money-raising" issue that seems to be always present within each church service.

The trio ends with a blessing: 16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 17 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand, which is the distinguishing mark in all my letters. This is how I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

The GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS. This is the message. This is the command. This is the instruction. And this is what is resisted by evil people and even good people, for that matter. It's grace! Grace is unmerited favor. You can't do anything to deserve it. That's what is so offensive about it. Most of us want to perform for God's favor. Yet, the attractiveness of the grace of God is that we don't have to do anything to be accepted into the family and acceptance of God. In fact, we can't do anything. Jesus has already done it! We continually want to DO, DO, DO, but Jesus sets the theme of DONE, DONE, DONE. That's the grace of Jesus that must be embraced by us all.