20 Feb March 14th Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S SECOND LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT THESSALONICA

KEEP AWAY FROM BELIEVERS WHO ARE IDLE AND DISRUPTIVE

2 Thessalonians 3:6 “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.”

In 1 Corinthians 14:40 the Holy Spirit through the pen of St. Paul urged the Christians in that congregation to conduct themselves decently and with orderliness.  These words came at the end St. Paul having “called out the congregation ” for ignoring the sinful behavior of a number of the members of this congregation.  He told them they were responsible to get their congregation back into order.

The Thessalonian congregation also experienced disrupters.  1 Thessalonians 5:13-14 addressed the fact that members of that congregation were not working. They were depending upon the generosity of their fellow members improperly.  Others in the congregation were disrupting the congregation.  Apparently the problem had not been resolved because in his second letter to this congregation he again wrote, “ . . . keep away from every believer who is idle and disruptive and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.” (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

Christians often have difficulty in addressing misbehavior of those within the congregation.  Satan, knowing this, finds a weaker member of the congregation in which to sow seeds of dissension, disruption, and upsetting behavior.  Today’s devotional verse is an exhortation to you and your fellow members, when this type of behavior occurs in your congregation, to discipline those who misbehave and disrupt.

Jesus provides the congregation with the steps to follow in dealing with those who are disorderly, disruptive, and upsetting.  They are found in Matthew 18:15-20.  His instruction in these verses apply to dealing with sinners, no matter what their sin.  The goal is always to “win the brother back.”

Prayer:  Lord, guide me in properly ministering to my brother or sister who is disruptive and upsetting.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

As rebels, Lord, who foolishly have wandered far from Your love—

Unfed, unclean, unclothed—

Dare we recall Your wealth so rashly squandered,

Dare hope to glean that bounty which we loathed?

Still we return, our contrite words rehearsing, Speech that within

Your warm embrace soon dies;

All of our guilt, our shame, our pain reversing

As tears of joy and welcome fill Your eyes.

A feast of love for us You are preparing; We who were lost,

You give an honored place!

All of our guilt, our shame, our pain reversing

Here taste again the treasures of My grace.”

(LSB 612)