Jesus taught his disciples how to commune with God, the Father.  Jesus did not teach prayer as a last resort, after all human efforts failed, He taught prayer as a way to seek God first before doing anything for God.  We must BE with God before we DO what God says.  If we do what we think is needed without consulting God and following is lead, we might be able to do good things for others and that work will make us feel good.  When we miss the point of prayer; We miss the greatness of God! When we attempt to “do good” on our own, we miss the joy of watching God work in and through us in incredible ways that go beyond our human abilities!  We fail to realize what an awesome privilege it is to join HIM in His greater work to bring all people to His saving grace. 

Jesus never prayed, “Father, bless my work.”  Instead, Jesus prayed—

“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.  (Matthew 6:9-13, NLT)

Jesus tenaciously taught all who would believe, listen, and follow to seek God first. Only God is good. Jesus model of prayer to God Almighty provides followers words to begin their relationship with God who loves us dearly.  Jesus begins by honoring God for who He is before asking for God’s Kingdom and His Will to prevail over all the things of this earth.  God’s Kingdom is where believers in Jesus dwell.  It is a place where new hearts are given a fresh start, where minds are transformed to think more like Jesus, which leads to changes in our behaviors.  Kingdom thinking is not like what the world generally thinks.  Kingdom living is opposite of selfish living in a world out to get all we can for ourselves.  God first—always!

In this prayer, Jesus also teaches followers that God is the Source and Sustainer of all we need.  And …we need forgiveness most of all.  God provided us Jesus.  Jesus, the One without sin, nailed all our sins to the cross so that we are able now to come to the throne of God, the Holy One, and be forgiven.  Because we have been forgiven—we must forgive those who sin against us.  This is the complete work of salvation that sets us free!  Knowing that evil is still at work, Jesus teaches us rely on God to rescue us from the evil one who taunts us daily.  “This then is how you should pray…” –Jesus

Paul reminds his beloved friends who he can rely on and trust in the work to “pray for us.”  He concludes his letter to the believers in Jesus who live in Thessalonica not only with this request to pray but with how to pray for those who work hard to spread the message of Jesus’ redemption!  Listen and learn…  

2 Thessalonians 3, The Message

Those Who Are Lazy

^1-3 One more thing, friends: Pray for us. Pray that the Master’s Word will simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response, just as it did among you. And pray that we’ll be rescued from these troublemakers who are trying to do us in. I’m finding that not all “believers” are believers. But the Master never lets us down. He’ll stick by you and protect you from evil.

^4-5 Because of the Master, we have great confidence in you. We know you’re doing everything we told you and will continue doing it. May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God’s love and Christ’s endurance.

^6-9 Our orders—backed up by the Master, Jesus—are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don’t permit them to freeload on the rest. We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it. We didn’t sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn’t be burdened with taking care of us. And it wasn’t because we didn’t have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious.

^10-13 Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty.

^14-15 If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don’t let him get by with it. Point out such a person and refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he’ll think twice. But don’t treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.

¹⁶ May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you!

¹⁷ I, Paul, bid you good-bye in my own handwriting. I do this in all my letters, so examine my signature as proof that the letter is genuine.

¹⁸ The incredible grace of our Master, Jesus Christ, be with all of you!

There is no greater encouragement this side of heaven than to know people who believe in Jesus are holding us up to God in prayer for us!  Are we returning the favor by praying for others in the work to spread the message across the world?

PAUSE TO REFLECT

• How often do we pray for those who deliver messages from God’s Holy Spirit each Sunday—that place where we meet with others to learn to be more like Jesus?
• How often do we pray for those who hold our babies, teach Jesus to our children, and guide our youth in the ways of God, through Jesus as Savior and Lord while we bask in the word of God being laid out before us?
• How often do we pray for those called of God to go to another country to spread the news of Jesus’ salvation to those who have never heard the story? 
• How often do we pray for those who believe but are shunned and even persecuted by their families because of turning to Jesus?

PAUSE TO PRAY WITH PAUL’S HEART USING JESUS’ WORDS

Are we praying like Paul who goal is one thing—Jesus?  To pray like Paul means praying “that the Master’s Word will simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response.”

How long has it been since we prayed to God like that along with this? —

“May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God’s love and Christ’s endurance.”

We have learned how to pray and how to love.  We learn we not each other’s enemies. 

We have learned how to respond.  Seek God first in prayer.  Help each other. Talk to each other from the love of God who resides with us.

“May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you!”

Lord, God of All,

May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done in all the details of our lives here as it is in heaven.  Forgive us as we forgive others.  Lead us. 

In Jesus Name, Amen