“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.”  (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
 
Living each day for God is often challenged by personal temptations, by people who disappoint us, and by physical trials.  Many opportunities for failure and discouragement are presented to the Christian.
 
Where can the child of God go for help?  Certainly, one should be able to go to brethren, or friends or family for support.  However, there are times when men fail us, but not God, for He is faithful. Men may disposed to do you wrong but, God will “establish you and guard you from the evil one”. This is the promise of God.
 
To “establish” is to make stable, to strengthen, to make firm.   In Colossians 2:6,7, Paul commands: “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith.”  Believers can be established when they come to God’s word and allow it to influence their lives.  It will be manifested by (II Thessalonians 1:3) a growing faith, ( II Thessalonians 1:3) an abounding love, and (II Thessalonians 1:4)an enduring patience.
 
It is equally reassuring to know that God will faithfully guard us from the evil one.  Jesus commands us to pray:  “And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:13)  Paul then assures us that God will deliver on our request by providing a way of escape in time of temptation (I Corinthians 10:13).  God, according to Ephesians 6:10-17,  supplies us with the armor necessary to win the battle.  God is faithful!
 
This is so wonderful to contemplate! What great consolation to the faithful Christian to know that God is always loyal to the “cause” they love.  We have all failed God on several occasions, but He has never failed us!  God wants us to succeed!  He is faithful!
 
George Slover

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You! “(Psalms 119:11)
 
The above verse is a truly practical one.  The best defense against sin is reading and meditating on God’s word.  I would venture to say that almost all of my readers would agree with this.  So, why is it so difficult to get folks to devote some time each day to daily reading, meditation, and prayer?  Maybe, it is because we fail to see the seriousness of the battle!
 
If you were deserted in a wilderness, but you had a manual that listed essential rules of survival, would you read it?  Absolutely!  Reality:  You are in the middle of a wilderness. You are in a battle for the survival of your soul!  Reality:  God’s word is your survival manual!
 
Unfortunately, we view the discipline of daily Bible reading with the same enthusiasm of a child who is told to brush his teeth!  “We ought to do that”, but we are not fully committed!  In modern times such apathy is inexcusable.  Use that MP3 player to download gospel singing, gospel preaching, or the text of Scripture.  Remove the CD with secular music from your player, and insert one with gospel music.  Take time to pray!  Your spiritual survival may depend upon it!
 
Time with God each day is not just about knowledge.  It is about your eternal destiny.  It is about connecting with God!
 
George Slover

"to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,”  (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)
 
The Scripture above is one of the few that speaks of the condition of the lost.  Paul plainly states that such a state will 1) involve “destruction” or to be cut off from the presence and glory of God, and 2) will last eternally!  Christ is coming “in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God.”  Hell is an awful reality!
 
The very idea of such a place is either ridiculed or quickly diminished in modern times.  Our society has lost its sense of moral accountability.  And modern churches are more interested in preparing one for retirement or success in business than in saving souls from hell.
 
There are two classes of people in the World.  They are 1) the saved – i.e. those who have obeyed the Gospel, and 2) the lost - i.e. those who do not know God.  There is no in-between state.  Every person is in one of those two classes.
 
I have a good friend whose profession involves rescuing people from burning buildings.  Suppose you were in that building and someone rushed in to save you.  Would you refuse?  Jesus Christ came into the World to deliver you from a burning house!  He did not die on the cross to help you succeed in this life, but to free you from the dread of hell!
 
It is not a very popular subject, but judgment is coming!  Jesus Christ can either be your Savior or your judge.  This important choice is left up to you.
 
George Slover

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:”  (I Thessalonians 4:13)
 
The phrase “will of God” not only refers to God’s commandments, but also that in which God delights.  In verse one he says, “we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God.”  He then proceeds to describe the kind of life in which pleases God.
 
Mankind was designed for holy living.  He is to exercise self-restraint, abstaining from fleshly passions.  God has not called us for the purpose of unclean living, but purity!  This is God’s will!  This is God’s delight!
 
How grieved and disappointed he must be to look upon the conduct of humanity!  From the beginning of time until now the general behavior of man is not a pretty picture.  How disgusted he must be with those who flaunt their animal-like behavior.  What an ugly portrait!
 
However, since the beginning of time there has always been a remnant of faithful ones striving to fulfill God’s desires.  Though they are not perfect, they are living holy lives that please God.   They are a work of beauty in a world of ugliness.
 
It has been my fortune to have known a few of those individuals.  The list includes teenage boys and girls who are keeping themselves from those defilements that are tempting their peers.  It includes elderly men who come to the late stages of life full of joy, love, and hope instead of bitterness.  And there are elderly women whose bright smile and innocence is a striking contrast to those who have lived the hard life of unrighteousness.
 
These shine as lights in a world of darkness!  In these God must truly take pleasure!
 
George Slover
 

“as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12)
 
Here Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his genuine concern for them. His sincerity was demonstrated by his refusal to use flattery to gain their approval.  Paul’s only motive was to win them to the Lord!  
 
In verse 12 Paul likens himself to a father with his children.  Being a father of two, I know exactly how Paul felt.  The three verbs Paul uses (exhort, comfort, and charge) vividly describe the action of a godly father.  Let us look at these three verbs.
 
To “exhort” (Greek word parakaleo) means to come to the side of as a helper.  Fathers, your children need more than just punitive discipline.  They need you to be like a coach standing on the sideline and urging them to finish strong. They need your listening ear in late night talks. 
 
“Comfort” is not used here in the sense that we use the word today.  The word means to persuade.  There is a tone of urgency in the gospel message.  Paul might say, “I beseech you”.  In the heart of every godly father is an anxious longing to know that his children are walking with courage, integrity, and decency in the holiness of God.
 
To “charge” is to urge.  This is a word of discipline – a robust, masculine word.  Fatherhood is not for sissies!  However, it involves more than commanding and certainly not nagging.  It is constantly coaching, gently pushing the child in the right direction
 
Life can be cruel.  The world has a strong pull.  The choices children make will be grave!  Fathers, your children need your support.  God entrusted you with precious children.  Your job is to mold them into God honoring adults.
 
George Slover