Episode Description
And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. (2 Thess. 3:13)
Expanded Passage: 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15
“If so-and-so jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?” What parent has not asked this question to confront peer pressure in the lives of their young and impressionable kids? Maturity, though, is defined by the ability to make the right decisions based on what is good. As Christians, often the actions of those around us will be contrary to how God is asking us to live. We can become weary of always doing the right thing. Here Paul asks the church in Thessalonica to persevere in doing what is good.
Much of Paul’s writing to the Thessalonians is a call to persevere under the persecution they were experiencing in the city. Many in Thessalonica were even martyred for their faith in Jesus. In this passage, though, Paul is encouraging perseverance of a different kind. He is encouraging them to persevere in doing what is good, even when those around them are not doing good. Paul is directly confronting the problem of “idleness” in the church, but Paul praises those in the church who were not idle. They were doing good through their work, even when those around them were refusing to work.
So, where are you doing good work today? Your work might be behind the scenes or might seem insignificant to you. Know that God sees you and he sees your work and is cheering you on.
Let your good work show others that you are follower of Christ.
Branden Petersen is the cofounder/pastor of Resurrection Life NYC in Manhattan with his wife, Jenn. He is also the founder and director of the urban church planting network, Global Cities Network.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.