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We read the news or watch a news report on television, and we see that things in our society seem to be getting darker and even more violent. We all have those places in our towns that we don’t travel through, and we definitely don’t travel through them after dark. Nothing is wrong with that, it’s just good old common sense and wisdom.

The spiritual life is different, though. We are not called to avoid the spiritually dangerous areas of life, but to boldly bring light to them. What if the Apostle Paul let fear keep him from travelling to the places that were hostile to the gospel? There would be fewer churches, maybe no churches at all, because most of the world in that day was hostile to the truth about salvation through Jesus.

Paul, in his second letter to the church in Thessalonica in chapter 3, was giving his last words of encouragement and challenge. In this chapter, he challenged them to be workers. In verse 10, Paul says, “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” Paul also asked the church to pray for him and his companions as they strived to spread the gospel. Paul knew that there would be great opposition. Paul’s prayer was that they would be delivered from evil men, for not all have faith.

Then Paul gives the church great encouragement, and I believe they are words that the modern church today needs to hear. II Thessalonians 3:3-5, “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.” Paul reminds us of the faithfulness of our Lord and that as we journey through enemy territory, He will also be there with us. Jesus is the One who will give us the strength, He is also the One who will protect us. I think we need to look at who the Lord is protecting us from, “the evil one.” We need to be reminded that if we are going to follow Jesus and be faithful to Him, we will be attacked harshly and frequently. But we do not have to be afraid because we are protected by the One True King.

This gives us the courage and strength to continue in our obedience and faithfulness so that others may hear the gospel, be freed from the bondage of sin, and finally know what it means to have eternal life. I know it gets hard, and the enemy does not fight fairly. Thankfully, our God is bigger, greater, and stronger than the enemy. Just remember, as you walk in enemy territory, you and I are not alone. Go give them Jesus.