DATE POSTED: Monday, 2023-04-03
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
TRANSLATION: Good News Translation (GNT)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹⁴ It may be that some there will not obey the message we send you in this letter. If so, take note of them and have nothing to do with them, so that they will be ashamed. ¹⁵ But do not treat them as enemies; instead, warn them as believers.

OBSERVATION: You might hear believers say something like, I’m not perfect, I’m just saved by the Perfect One. I believe that’s a perfectly good statement, but then the question arises: How then should I treat disobedient believers? Join me as we tune in to what Paul taught at the conclusion of his second letter to the church at Thessalonica.

APPLICATION: Paul emphasized repeatedly that his letter was addressed to the saints of God. Just in case you missed it, notice in verse 14 that the letter/message was sent to the church (you). The ‘church’ is made up of born-again believers in Jesus Christ. In vs 15, Paul commanded that the church treat the disobedient ones as ‘believers’, or saints of God. The Bible is clear that if we know the truth of God’s Word and choose to live in opposition to that truth, then we are rebels in the face of God for our deliberate sin. So it was important that Paul would teach the church at Thessalonica and God’s church/believers today, how to treat those who know the truth but refuse to follow that truth. If we do nothing, then the ‘church’ will be a bunch of obedient believers who are diluted by some who stand their ground and refuse to obey the truth of God’s Word. This gives the outlook to the world that the church is filled with wishy washy saints, because if they can’t correct their own, there is no way that they will reach the souls of those who reject Jesus. This was a problem in the church of Paul’s time, and the problem still exists today. But I believe the really important thing for us to look at in today’s Scripture is the lesson taught by Paul on how the church is to deal with this problem, so let’s tune into that very closely. Paul taught:

• Have nothing to do with the disobedient ones – I like a different translation that reads ‘don’t socialize with the disobedient’. I know, this will appear like you are judging another saint about their disobedience, and you are convicting them by disassociating with them. But which is worse, to know about the problem and go on treating them like nothing happened, or do as Paul taught? I am always reminded that God approves of everything in His Word, so if Paul was incorrect in this lesson, it wouldn’t have made the cut. We must be confident that God knows what He’s doing, and that His lesson through His servant, Paul, is the right one for us to follow.
• Treat the disobedient like believers, which they are – Don’t treat these folk like the enemy. Think of how you treat your disobedient child at home and treat these folk in the same way. You may not want to hang out with them and treat them like everything is perfect, but you still love them deeply; you are still praying for their eyes to be opened to the truth of God’s Word; and you are anxious to follow God’s commands in your on life so that they might see the truth in yet a different way. They’re your Bother/Sister, and they need to know that their sibling still loves them and is rooting for them as they struggle through the discomfort of being out of line with God.

Normally we remember the last thing said to us by a person. These verses contain the words Paul shared as he concluded his 2nd letter to the church at Thessalonica. Take note of this dear friends. We may not be perfect, but God finds a way to always correct us to make us perfect as He is.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Thank You Lord, for Your blessings on me.

PRAYER: Lord, it is obvious that wherever there are rules and standards, people will choose to obey, or disobey. I believe that You have such blessings in store for those who choose to obey Your Word, but I also believe that we will not all be perfect until we transition to heaven where the temptations of this world and its evil leader will no longer pose a threat to us. Teach us to follow the path that You have set for Your children, so that we may live in harmony with You and Your gospel and become a force to be reckoned with by the evil one. Please strengthen us so the church will be the church in every good way, and may we look so much like You that the world will desire to accept Your lordship and be a part of Your army here on earth. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!