Standing fast in the Lord – 1 Thess. 3:8
“…for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 3:8
After preaching the true gospel of forgiveness and life in the crucified and risen Savior, Christ Jesus, the apostle Paul was forced to leave Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-10). He was very concerned for the believers there, fearing that some might have given up their faith in Christ Jesus because of persecution, and sent Timothy to check on them and strengthen them in the Word of God. Hearing of their faith in Christ, Paul rejoiced, saying, “…for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.”
Today, we celebrate the Lutheran Reformation and all the blessings which we have inherited as a result of the labors of Dr. Martin Luther and others who risked property and life to possess Christ and be clothed in the righteousness of God which is ours through faith. We have the Holy Scriptures and the true doctrine of Christ Jesus, our Savior. By the Law, we know our sinfulness and the wrath of God we justly deserve on account of our sins; but by the Gospel, we know that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by bearing upon the cross the full punishment for the sins of the world (Gal. 3:10,13).
But of what benefit is the Lutheran Reformation to us if we neglect these blessings – if we do not read and study our Bibles and continue in the sacred truths revealed to us there? What good will it do us to preserve Lutheran traditions if we fail to hold fast to Lutheran doctrine and faith? If we forsake the Word of God, and turn from Christ and the central doctrine of the Christian Faith – that we are saved by God’s grace alone for the sake of Christ’s holy life and His innocent sufferings and death on the cross for the sins of the world and that we receive that salvation through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ?
As a pastor and servant of Christ, I sometimes wonder about the effectiveness of my ministry among you? Since only God knows our hearts and our faith, we can only look at the profession of our lips and our lives. It gives me joy and reason to continue preaching and teaching God’s Word among you when I see and hear of your faith in Christ Jesus, your desire to remain faithful to Christ and His Word amidst troubles and persecutions, and your desire to minister to the needs of your fellow believers and others through both acts of love and kindness and through sharing of the saving Gospel of our Lord and Savior.
Today, we celebrate the Lutheran Reformation. If we continue in the Word of God and hold fast to Christ Jesus as our crucified and risen Savior, we continue in the Reformation. If, in spite of persecution, trouble and suffering, we cling to Jesus and His Word and trust in Him alone for salvation, we have reason to rejoice and give praise to God for His gracious working in us. We can say with the apostle, “…for now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.”
Praise be to You, O God, for keeping us in Christ Jesus and the truth of His Word. Graciously preserve us unto life everlasting. Amen.
[Scripture taken from the Modern King James Version of the Holy Bible Copyright © 1962 - 1998 by Jay P. Green, Sr., used by permission of the copyright holder.]
Categories: Devotions, Life Applications