1Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; 2and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith.
If dependence on God was characteristic of the venerable apostle Paul—who was the most influential of all the early believers for the spread of the gospel, who planted innumerable churches, who wrote thirteen of the twenty-six NT books, and who suffered many hardships and persecutions for the faith—then it ought to be the case for all of us “lesser” beings. How could we dare think we do not need God’s help as we traverse through our “normal” lives? The reality is that with divine help infusing our every effort, we will live anything but ordinary, normal Christian lives. Would that all Christians would get this point; then we would have a new kind of normal!
Coming last does not diminish the importance of Paul’s final recorded words to the Thessalonians. Finishing words carry great import. The need for prayer is tantamount, inherently expressing the absolute need for God’s help in whatever way is needed. The Christian walk (not just the apostolic work) can only be done in the power of God, by divine partnership with God.
Silent skeptics of the value of prayer might think a lot can be done apart from prayer. Paul acknowledged Christian service done in the flesh has some value:
Some . . . are preaching Christ even from envy and strife . . . proclaim[ing] Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives. . . . What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice . . .
(Phil. 1:15–18).
Paul wanted more for his ministry, that God would use his efforts to spread “the word of the Lord.” This is more than just propagating the content of the gospel, but that the Word would go out in spiritual power, unhindered by the opposition of enemies of the gospel. He wanted the Word to have a wide influence in changed lives, like the effect it had with the Thessalonians. One can’t help but notice the value Paul places on the prayers of his new converts.
There is power in the “word of the Lord” when preached in the power of the Lord. And for this to happen, we need to pray for God’s help. And we need the prayers of one another to reach the lost with the gospel message.
Lord, I pray that You would use my efforts for the powerful spread of the Word. And I resolve to not fail in praying for those who go out to spread the gospel.
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