◄ What Does 2 Thessalonians 3:13 Mean? ►

In the final few verses of this second letter to the Christians at Thessalonica, Paul gives some wonderful instructions on spiritual growth. He encourages these believers to finish the race that is set before them, to patiently endure the hardships that they may have to face, and not to grow weary of doing the right thing.

Even in Paul's day, there was much confusion and false teaching concerning the prophesied Day-of-the-Lord, the end of the age of grace, and the events during this time period, including when the Lord Jesus returns in the clouds to gather the Body of Christ to Himself in the Rapture, the seven-year period called the Tribulation, and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus to earth to set up His Millennial Kingdom on earth.

This second Thessalonian letter is written to clarify Paul's earlier teaching about the gathering together of the Church in the Rapture. This event occurs at the end of this dispensation of grace, preceding the Day-of-the-Lord. The Day-of-the-Lord starts with the 7-year Tribulation period, at the end of which Jesus returns to earth in the event called the Second Coming. The Day-of-the-Lord continues with the Millenium, where Jesus rules and reigns for 1000 years and ends when God's sets up a new heaven and a new earth.

After his comforting reassurance that the terrible Day-of-the-Lord, which was spoken about in the prophets of old, would not happen until the Church has been, "gathered together unto Christ," Paul seeks to establish them in an unshakable faith that is anchored in the Word of God. Paul understood that we would all be facing increasingly difficult times as the day for Christ's return draws ever closer.

Paul obviously felt the need to pray for the Body of Christ in a way that reflected Christ's own High Priestly prayer - which the Lord Jesus prayed only hours before His own crucifixion (see John 17). Paul prayed that the Church would continue to faithfully share the good news of the gospel of grace. He prayed that they would have much success in spreading the glorious gospel of God, and he prayed that those who delivered the message of salvation would be kept in the power of the Most High, so that the Word of truth would rapidly spread to the ends of the earth.

Paul also knew how easily discouragement can descend on the saints of God, for the enemy prowls around as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, and so Paul gave one final word of encouragement, "do not grow weary of well doing."

Then, as now, there are many that seek to undermine the spread of the gospel, both within and outside of the Church. Then, as now, it can be tempting to backtrack on our commitment to Christ when we are faced with external animosity and painful inner struggles. Then, as now, we can be enticed into taking the line of least resistance, or back-slide into carnality in our Christian walk.

However, now, as then, we need to take to heart Paul's final words of instruction to the Church at Thessalonica. We are not to be those that pull back when times get tough, and should take to heart Paul's words of encouragement - as we press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, knowing that His grace is sufficient.

Let us pay special heed to these final words of encouragement, so that we, "do not grow weary of well doing," in the closing season of the Church dispensation!

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Word of truth and the encouragement and instructions that enable us to live godly lives as we press towards the goal of our calling. I pray that I may not grow weary of doing the right thing - and ask that I may be empowered by Your Spirit, to walk in spirit and truth unto my life's end. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.