Reading your Bible for Today February 19

February 19: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

KJV Key Verse: 2 Thessalonians 3:6
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

Devotion:
When I was at university, one of the things I found easiest to do was to follow other people in not doing the work! All it took was one or two people to suggest anything other than work and we would be off as a group doing something other than the work we should have been doing. The only saving grace for me was that I did not live on campus and was able to do some work when back in my lodgings!

To a large extent we have to face up to that very same circumstance in our churches all the time. Satan is going to use whatever he can to get us away from doing God's work. He is going to use others around us and even use people who do come to church. We may well be living in the age of grace where Christ's blood has already paid for our sins, but we still have to live. We still have to do our bit to continue the life we live. We still have a choice as to whether we are going to do the work Christ would have us do, or to choose to ignore Him and do our own thing!

This does not mean that we must turn our backs on anyone around us who we think is not pulling their weight – far from it. God wants us to be examples to others. Examples of encouragement and strength. Examples that people can look up to for encouragement and strength. Verse 13 states “be not weary in well doing”. Don't turn your back on being able to do a good turn. Don't turn you back on Christ's work because it is through that work others will be able to be encouraged!

If we set the example to do Christ's work, others will be more willing to do the same instead of giving in to the temptations of laziness and all manner of distractions which Satan can throw in our ways every day. But we must be careful to set the example by actually achieving things rather than just by just talking about it or making it look like we are doing something all the time!

Points to Ponder:
Do you distract others or do you give in to their distractions?

How much time do you give to God each day?