MAY 3

2 Thessalonians 3:6
Memorise 1 Chronicles 28:20
“Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed…”

DO WE EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH?

Paul wrote the second epistle to the Thessalonian church to warn them of false teachers and the dangerous doctrines that they had been sowing. From outside the church, there were those who deceived them into believing that the day of the Lord had already come, causing them to despair (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3). From within the church, there were these brethren that ‘walketh disorderly’. They were not walking into accordance to the tradition (faith imparted to them by the apostles) that they had been instructed in. Instead, they had the wrong notion of what it meant to prepare for the Lord’s Second Coming, and had stopped work, becoming a nuisance, freeloader and busybody in the congregation. Such behavior was very disruptive and harmful to the church. Because of that, Paul’s instruction to the church was to withdraw, remove themselves from these wayward members, to have no fellowship with them, and also say the reasons for this. Paul issues this command not in his name, but that of Christ.

In any contention – there is a struggle, debate in opposition to something. It is a battle that requires action, and results in a reaction, usually negative. When we have no fellowship with and openly oppose and name fellow believers and churches that no longer preach, teach and live according to the Holy Word of God, we are earnestly contending for the faith. It is by Christ’s authority and for Him we sincerely do this. We would do this not out of spite or anger, but because of love, for we sincerely want these erring brethren to realize their wrong, repent and turn back to the Lord. In so doing, we are actively promoting and not compromising the faith.

Bible-based and Bible-honouring churches are few in these last days. These churches are often a lonely and scorned minority. In this sea of compromise and disobedience it is difficult to find the courage and the wisdom to sincerely contend for the faith and to persevere doing so. But, if a church as a body of believers genuinely professes Christ, then living according to the Word as taught by the apostles is not optional, but will be a great blessing – both to themselves and the people around them.

Thought: What is the motivation for earnestly contending for the faith? If Christians do not contend for the faith, who will?
Prayer: Give the courage to earnestly contend for the pure and only faith in obedience to Christ as His child.