“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:3, NKJV

Several decades later, I can still almost hear Mr. Odri, my Primary School teacher, mention the word ‘establish.’

It was my first time to hear that word and boy, how it struck me.

It impressed me so much that I never missed any opportunity to throw it around in our childhood conversations at school.

In our meditation today, the Apostle Paul and his colleagues, Silas and Timothy, use that word when writing to encourage the intensely persecuted Church in Thessaloniki.

The dear men of God assure the believers of the Lord’s faithfulness and His willingness to establish them and guard them from the evil one (the devil).

The Greek root for ‘establish’ means to make firm or solid, the same way a builder erects a concrete pillar, which once it ‘sets’ becomes as hard as a solid rock and could last for a lifetime.

It’s from the Greek word that we got our English word ‘stereotype.’

In the Old Testament, the word for ‘establish’ connotes being firmly anchored and being firm in such a way that something is almost permanent.

In that context, an “established” thing can be something that is enduring, long-term, durable, permanent and indestructible.  

For example, God told David; “I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever.” (See also 2 Samuel 7:16).

Additionally, it was also used to describe divine covenants, and the divinely instituted order of natural phenomena such as sunrise and the seasons.

The Greek root for ‘establish’ means to make firm or solid, the same way a builder erects a concrete pillar, which once it ‘sets,’ becomes as hard as a solid rock and could last for a lifetime.

Now, there are a few things that I wish to point out in relation to being “established.”

First, being established by God is not an abstract idea; it is a reality that can be experienced by the individual.

For example, the Bible says of King David in 2 Samuel 5:12: “Then David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.”

Second, being established is direct result of faith.

Isaiah 7:9 says; “If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.”

You might find it interesting to discover that the words, ‘believe’ and ‘established’ in this context, are a poetic word play on the same Hebrew word from which we get the English word ‘amen’ (may it be so).

So to you who is in dire straits, who has come to the end of your tether, believing in God’s promises is your only avenue to being established.

Thirdly, being established is for “now” not something for us to look forward to in the future.        

2 Corinthians 1:21 – 22 says; “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God.” Mark the key word ‘now.’ Our establishment is for now and today! Hallelujah.

Four, the above verse also shows us that being established is for all the children of God, irrespective of offices.

The God who established the apostles and the Early Church is the same God who is faithful to establish you today.

Finally, the above verse also shows us that true establishment can only be found in Christ, not in dogmas nor people nor material things. 

Only in Christ are we established to persist pakalast – for the long-term.                       

Prayer:        

Almighty God, thank You because Your faithfulness is establishing me. My relationship with You is not meant to be short-lived; it shall endure for a lifetime. Help me to have the faith to believe in Your Word so that I can be established. In Jesus Name, Amen!