Established And Unmoved

“But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Dear Ones:

It is one thing to know that Christ is our “spiritual Rock,” from which we are to live.  It is quite another to BE established, and unmoved from Him in the difficult hour.  How can it be done?

The first thing we need to remember when facing any Biblical doctrine or truth, especially as it applies to our living, is that we must always begin with Christ’s completed work on Calvary, that for which He declared on the Cross, “It is finished.”  What was finished?  It was a perfect work whereby the Father put us IN Jesus Christ, making us not only those who inherit salvation, but placing us in living contact with that the One who IS our salvation.  In putting us into this living union with the Son of God, making Him to BE our life, we are put, not only “on the Rock,” but actually IN the Rock.  In Jesus’ “High Priestly Prayer” in John 17, He prays to the Father for the believer:  “…that they all may be one; as Thou, Father art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that he world may believe that You have sent Me.” (v.21)  Why does He pray this?  It is in order that the believer will have, not only a vision of the work of Christ, God putting us into Him, but also, revealing to us the necessary power that must be given by God to enable us to believe the invisible, the certain truth of the spiritual reality.  If we would know His stabilizing work and power, then we need God to first open our eyes to see Christ’s work on Calvary, and then, give us the grace to embrace Him wholeheartedly by faith.  This leads us to the simple question:  How is this to be done?

The first thing is to relate the matter to the Lord alone, and wholly.  Paul writes to the Thessalonians:  “Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and ESTABLISH you in every good word and work.” (2 Thess. 2:16,17)  He goes on to write:  “The Lord is faithful, who shall ESTABLISH you, and keep you from evil.” (3:3)  It is Christ who reveals the enormity, and reality of His work, in order to become in our stability, as we trust Him alone.  Secondly, James writes:  “Be ye also patient: ESTABLISH your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” (5:8)  Our role in being established is found in the specific pursuit of it.  How much do we desire to be established, unmoved, certainly not doubting or double-minded, especially in the face of opposition to faith?  As it is true that God seeks to “pour the power into us” when we need it, so, He is faithful to respond to the heart and mind of the one who truly seeks Him to BE specifically their power, stability, and strength.

Dear Father, You have revealed to us that Christ is indeed our Rock, that eternal unwavering, unchanging, stableness, which nothing can alter.  Give us a true vision, perception and grasp, of the eternal truth of our union with Him, this unmovable Rock.  And give us grace to appropriate HIM as our stability and strength.  Give us to be unmoved in the storm, as well as in the green pastures, of Your choosing.  We praise and thank Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Love, Dad