Mildew

2 Thessalonians 3-Part 2
And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. And may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.   2 Thess. 3:4-5 NAS

LET IT GLOW

The house we lived in for eight years had an unattached garage with a concret floor. I stored my teaching materials, books, and childrens' childhood stuff in cardboard boxes there. This garage had an attached laundry room, which may have made the difference. When I was going through the stuff in the garage before moving to another house, I found an unwanted surprise-mildew. It was black stuff that ate away the bottom of my boxes which were sitting on the floor. When I lifted those boxes, the bottom fell out. Rotten boxes. Contents in those boxes either had to be thrown away or treated. What a time consuming mess. Probably it happened because of the dark, damp, unventilated garage. Rarely was the door opened. This was a growing, undetected problem until we were getting ready to move.

"Like the silent undetected mildew, sexual impurity can eat away at the fiber of a congregation," said Charles Swindoll in his book Steadfast Christianity.

Paul warned the congregation at Thessalonica in his first letter to them, which is found in chapter two, the first seven verses. He says, "God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification."

Looking back at our key verse, Paul had confidence in these people, probably in their sexual purity. He was trusting them to do right before God.

Beware of impure thoughts that might be creaping into our minds like the mildew did my boxes. We need to always guard our minds. Don't grow accustomed to immorality presented in movies and television. Remain alert to Satan's tactics to cause us to stumble into sin.

LET IT GROW

In verse 5, Paul entreats the Lord to direct our hearts into love and endurance.
Swindoll said, "Steadfast hearts are harbored in a deep love for God. In reality, it is not the intensity of the storms washing over our lives that shipwrecks us, but the lack of intensity in our love for God. Our love for Him forms the sturdy mast and mainsail of our lives. As the mast effects the sail, so the depth of your love will determine the steadfastness of your soul. We may have different quarters, but we're all in the same boat."

How deep is my love for God? Will it remain through any storm of life?


LET IT GO

Keep my thoughts pure so I do what is right.

Remain in love with Christ, developing a deeper love each day.