Day 69: 2 Thessalonians 3:2

“and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.”



Not all have faith. We should know this, but the way we act betrays us. Why are we shocked when people do evil, wicked things? Why are we surprised when people hurt us, or mock us, or do anything bad?


Why are we even surprised when believers do dumb things?


Paul says it very clearly: “For not all have faith.”


If you’re going to be a Christian leader, one thing you will have to do is get used to the fact that unbelievers act like unbelievers. They don’t hold the same values as you and me, and they don’t think the same way as you and me. They don’t have the Holy Spirit to guide them, and they haven’t given their lives to Christ. In effect, they are still playing for the other team.


Getting mad or being shocked by the behaviors of an unbeliever isn’t something you want to do. You’ll be mad and shocked all the time. Instead, understand why people act the way they do, and remember that sin is real, and the hold of sin over people’s lives is real. Pray for people. Work with them. Love on them.


Look at the first part of this prayer. Paul is praying that we be delivered from wicked and evil people. This is the other thing about people who don’t have faith. Many times they will try to bring the faithful down. Throughout history, Christians have been the target of persecution all over the world. Sometimes the persecution is light, and sometimes it leads to death.


A Christian leader has to deal with those that don’t believe in Christ. It’s our job. We are to love and share the gospel with them. We are to heal the sick, care for the poor, and help those that are helpless. We don’t always get thanked for our efforts. Sometimes we get spit on. Sometimes we get killed.


Christian Leadership Principle: A Christian leader understands that unbelievers don’t act like believers. They understand that people who under bondage to sin will act like it. We love them anyway. We also pray to be delivered from those who seek to hurt us, all the while loving those very people and sharing the gospel with them.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Romans 12:9-21


Prayer: Father, give me understanding. Help me to see people as You see them. Help me to understand when people do bad and harmful things, and save us from evil and wicked people. In Christ’s name, amen.

Day 38: 2 Thessalonians 3:1

“Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you”



What do you pray for? If you’re like most people, you probably pray for your family, for those that you know are sick, your friends, and yourself.


There is nothing wrong with this. In fact, each of these facets of prayer are very biblical, but I want to challenge you today to expand your prayer life.


Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, asks for prayer from them (as he did every other church that he wrote to). He asks a very specific prayer that I think deserves a little more attention. He asks the Thessalonians to pray that the Word of God (the gospel) move in power even ahead of Paul and his evangelistic campaign.


This is interesting, because he ends with “as happened among you.” Obviously, the word of God was moving in power among the Thessalonians (probably from someone who had brought it back with them from a trip), even before Paul got there.


Think about that for a minute. What’s Paul really asking? He’s asking that the Thessalonians pray that God’s word is spread quickly and powerfully across the entire earth, moving in power and with fruitfulness.


Do you ever pray for this? Do you pray for all those nameless missionaries that are right now sharing the faith with those who are lost? Do you pray for all those that will share their faith tomorrow at work, or at school?


We should. In fact, imagine the power behind that prayer as millions of Christians around the world pray for those who will be sharing their faith with the lost, and for the lost who will hear it. What a powerful thought.


When you pray today, remember the gospel, and pray for those who will be sharing and hearing it.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: A Christian leader prays for the gospel as it goes out throughout the earth, and for those who share and hear it.


Here’s a set of verse to meditate on today: Matthew 9:35-38


Prayer: Father, help me to remember all of your servants as they share your word today. Help me to be one of those servants. In Jesus name, amen.