II Thessalonians 3:1-18
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. (v. 3) A footnote in my Study Bible says that “evil one” could also be translated “evil”. Either translation works well, since the “evil one” is the source of all evil. But the front end of that statement is what’s really important – the Lord’s faithfulness! In this same verse, another translation item – the NASB translates “establish you and guard you” with “strengthen and protect you”. All of those verbs work well together and actually fit nicely in sequence: establish, strengthen, guard, protect. We are first established in Jesus, then strengthened for the work ahead of us. Then while we are working the Lord is also watching over us, guarding us, and when necessary, protecting us from evil. We are always being protected, even when we are not seeking the Lord’s help – and the more we seek Him, the more strengthened we are and the more protection He affords us. The Lord is faithful!!
See also: April 13 / II Thess. 3:1-18
I’ve got to share this. You’ve heard David speak of “God’s echo” – a “message” from the Lord repeated a time or two, always the same message. Did you read my post from this morning where I commented on II Thessalonians 3:3? But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. Today we were driving from our home to visit some very dear friends who have a lake house near Roanoke, Virginia. I’m driving on Rt. 460 east in West Virginia. At about mile marker 25 I saw that same exact verse on a billboard in the NASB translation that I had cited earlier today. Same exact verse! God’s echo!
Occasionally we hear one of the verses we recently read repeated in a sermon. Today was different. Along the road, on a billboard… God’s (divine) echo…!!