Saturday 25th October
Read 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
“Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed. 15 Yet do not regard them as an enemy, but warn them as you would a fellow believer.” (NIVUK)
Fellowship is at the heart of Christian life and service. Paul often tells people to associate with people who reflect the character of Christ in their lives. Equally, he tells believers not to associate with those who would lead others astray. Sometimes those instructions are judicial and sometimes, like this letter, they are remedial.
This is simply a reflection of Jesus’ observation that ‘Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied round their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3 So watch yourselves.’ (Luke 17:1-3) (NIVUK).
The warning Jesus gave His disciples is much the same warning Paul gives the believers in Thessalonica. This is not an instruction to steer clear of everyone who might lead you astray – as Paul says elsewhere – you would have to abandon the world entirely! It is an instruction designed to shame those who are sinning into repentance. The last word in Greek, as it should be, is ‘brother’.
