2 Thessalonians 3:16
One in a series of 3:16s of the New Testament. The eagle-eyed will note that there was no devotion for 1 Thessalonians 3:16--that's because 1 Thessalonians 3 has only 13 verses.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.
A brief reading of the book of 2 Thessalonians (it will take you no more than ten minutes) reveals a church under severe persecution. Right near the beginning of the letter, in 1:4, Paul encourages the Thessalonians by telling them they are an encouragement to others: “...we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions...” Paul goes on to tell the Thessalonians that those who are persecuting them will one day face God’s judgment: “These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord...” But such a day of triumph will not come soon, says Paul. Even though there is no immediate end to their persecution in sight, Paul urges the Thessalonians to “stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us...” (2:15)
Because of this persecution, Paul ends his letter to the Thessalonians with a salutation unique to them, which we read in 3:16: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.”
It seems to me that in Paul’s “parting shot” to these good folks, he wanted to give them a sense of peace. It’s almost redundant, the way Paul phrases it: “May the Lord of peace himself give you peace...” To call God the “Lord of peace” instead of the Lord of righteousness, truth, etc., suggests that Paul knew that the one thing that these people needed God to be was peace. Before they needed anything else, they needed God to be a God of peace for them. And then, as if to intensify it even more, Paul asks this Lord of peace to grant peace to the people. And Paul still further “increases the peace” when he says “...at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.” The peace of God is not merely for the times we are miserable; it is for all times. The peace of God is not merely an emotional or a physical or a spiritual peace; it is all of these and more. The peace of God is not merely for an elite class of believers who have achieved great things for God: it is for all believers. God’s peace is given at all times in all ways for all of us.
Maybe you find yourself in the same place as the Thessalonians–faithful Christians usually do from time to time. Often, we are called on to lay something of ourselves down for the good of others or even for our own good. Often, Christians are misunderstood and even disliked by our culture, for we worship different gods than this world; we have different priorities than those around us. And this leads us to some difficult situations. My prayer is that you may know the peace that only a Lord of peace can give–at all times, in all ways, for all of you.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.
A brief reading of the book of 2 Thessalonians (it will take you no more than ten minutes) reveals a church under severe persecution. Right near the beginning of the letter, in 1:4, Paul encourages the Thessalonians by telling them they are an encouragement to others: “...we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions...” Paul goes on to tell the Thessalonians that those who are persecuting them will one day face God’s judgment: “These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord...” But such a day of triumph will not come soon, says Paul. Even though there is no immediate end to their persecution in sight, Paul urges the Thessalonians to “stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us...” (2:15)
Because of this persecution, Paul ends his letter to the Thessalonians with a salutation unique to them, which we read in 3:16: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.”
It seems to me that in Paul’s “parting shot” to these good folks, he wanted to give them a sense of peace. It’s almost redundant, the way Paul phrases it: “May the Lord of peace himself give you peace...” To call God the “Lord of peace” instead of the Lord of righteousness, truth, etc., suggests that Paul knew that the one thing that these people needed God to be was peace. Before they needed anything else, they needed God to be a God of peace for them. And then, as if to intensify it even more, Paul asks this Lord of peace to grant peace to the people. And Paul still further “increases the peace” when he says “...at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.” The peace of God is not merely for the times we are miserable; it is for all times. The peace of God is not merely an emotional or a physical or a spiritual peace; it is all of these and more. The peace of God is not merely for an elite class of believers who have achieved great things for God: it is for all believers. God’s peace is given at all times in all ways for all of us.
Maybe you find yourself in the same place as the Thessalonians–faithful Christians usually do from time to time. Often, we are called on to lay something of ourselves down for the good of others or even for our own good. Often, Christians are misunderstood and even disliked by our culture, for we worship different gods than this world; we have different priorities than those around us. And this leads us to some difficult situations. My prayer is that you may know the peace that only a Lord of peace can give–at all times, in all ways, for all of you.
posted by Rev. Michael Jordan at 9:33 AM
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