2 Thessalonians 2:13

2 Thessalonians 2:13

And we are obligated to give thanks to God at all times regarding you all, brothers and sisters having been loved by the Lord, because God chose you all as first fruits into salvation in a sanctification of the Spirit and a faithfulness of truth …

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Once more we hear Paul connect the words “obligated” and “give thanks.”  For Paul, this isn’t something that we should do.  Neither is this something that we feel like doing.  This is an obligation.  We give thanks for those who God has given the opportunity to love truth and who have claimed that love of truth.  In a world full of people in whom rejection is a default position, we are indeed obligated to give thanks to God whenever someone overcomes that natural position.

Do you give thanks for people who believe the truth?  What does that look like for you?

Second Thought:

We were chosen by God as first fruits.  So what is our response?  We are sanctified by the Holy Spirit.  We are spiritually renewed.  Daily we struggle against sin and daily we heed God’s call to imitate Him.

How do you heeds God’s call for your life?  How do you daily struggle against sin?

Third Thought:

Sanctification is not the end, though.  We are also called into a faithfulness.  God wants us to be obedient to the truth.  We are not just to struggle against sin.  We are to go forth and act.  We are to be an example of righteousness in this world.

Do you believe that you can be an example of righteousness?  What does this look like in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Thessalonians 2:14-15

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12

And because of this, God sends a work of deception to them in order for them to believe the lie in order that all the ones who did not believe by the truth but rather took pleasure in unrighteousness should be judged.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

God sends a work of deception among them.  Does this mean that God is to blame for the fact that they don’t believe?  Absolutely not!  Remember what we talked about yesterday.  None of us can believe on our own.  The only way that we can know the truth is by receiving the ability from God.  He wants all of us to know the truth.  He gives all of us that opportunity.  Yet, some reject that gift.  To those who reject the ability to receive the truth, God then sends something else to believe.  The people who have already rejected God’s offer to know the truth will receive the lie.  God does not force them to believe the lie, He simply gives us an opportunity to see which we would rather believe.  We have the option to receive a love for truth.  We also have an option to lie falsehood.  But it is ultimately our choice.

Do you love the truth or the lie?  Is it ever tempting to believe the lie?  Is it ever hard to believe the truth?

Second Thought:

Why do we love the falsehood?  We love it because we take pleasure in unrighteousness.  This isn’t really an “us” versus “them” position.  We all love the rebellion.  It’s called sin.  Every single one of us has a heart that seeks rebellion and unrighteousness.  The difference is that those who love the truth acknowledge that their love for unrighteousness is wrong.  We acknowledge that it is sin, it is not desired by God, and it is our human failing.  We can be forgiven of it.  We are forgiven and made righteous, not inherently righteous on our own.

When do you love unrighteousness?  Where is your sin in your life?  Do you acknowledge that sin is there?

Third Thought:

There are few definite articles as powerful as the definite article in 2 Thessalonians 2:11.  God sends a work of deception in order for them to believe the lie.  They don’t believe a lie.  They don’t even believe false things.  They believe the lie.  What lie do they believe?  They believe the ultimate lie.  They believe the same lie that Satan gets all of us to try and believe.  They believe the same lie that Satan used against Eve.  They believe that we can be like God.  They believe that they will be so moral, so intelligent, and so wise that we can figure anything out.  That is the lie.  Satan’s great lie is to get us to believe so much in humanity that we forget our need for God.  Now it should all make sense.  Why do people not receive the ability to love truth as we spoke about yesterday?  They don’t receive it because they don’t believe they need it.  If we are like God, then what need do we have for Him?  That’s the lie.  That’s what we must never believe.  We are not like God.  He is different.  He alone is holy.  We need Him.  That’s truth.

What do you believe: the lie or the truth?  Do you live in a manner that relies upon your own ability or upon God’s ability?  Do you live according to the lie or the truth?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Thessalonians 2:13

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10

The coming of whom is in accordance with the work of Satan in all power and signs and false foretelling of pending events and every deception of unrighteousness by the ones who are perishing for the reason that they did not receive the love of truth in order for them to be saved.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I think that the big teaching in these verses is that the coming of lawlessness – and specifically the coming of the lawless one – is in accordance with the work of Satan.  I think that this really goes to show the position of humanity in the world.  We like to think that we are in control.  We like to think that we are our own bosses.  But we’re not.  We get our authority and power from external sources.  We can get it from God if we follow Him and are obedient to His calling.  We can get it from Satan if we are obedient to our own fleshly sinfulness.  But we get our power and authority from external sources, not from within ourselves.  After all, what can mortal beings do on an eternal scale without the help of an eternal being?

Where do you get your power?  Does it make sense that the lawless one will come through power that is utilized in accordance with Satan?

Second Thought:

I find it interesting to compare the coming of the lawless one with the coming of the one who fulfilled the Law.  When Jesus came, He performed miracles.  He came with power.  He came telling what the future would hold – especially regarding His own death and resurrection.  The coming of the lawless one will seem very similar in content.  There will be power and miracles and predictions about the future.  But there will be one major difference.  With Jesus, His words were true.  With the one of lawlessness, his words may seem true but they will be false.  The lawless one will be deceptive.  Jesus spoke hard truth.  The lawless one will speak false words that are easy to hear and swallow.

Does it make sense to you to think that the lawless one will impersonate Jesus?  How do you think the lawless one will be received by the world?  Why might he be received when Jesus was so readily rejected?

Third Thought:

Paul gives us sad words about the ones who will be deceived by the lawless one.  They aren’t saved.  It is especially sad to hear why they are not saved.  They are not saved because they did not receive a love of truth.  It isn’t that they didn’t have it within them.  They didn’t receive it!  The truth is that none of us have it within ourselves to receive God’s truth on our own.  The only way that we can receive truth is if God gives us the power.  If we receive the love of truth from God, then we can likewise receive His truth itself.  That’s the sad part about the people who are not saved in the end.  It isn’t that they didn’t have it within themselves.  None of us do.  It is that they weren’t willing to receive what they lacked for free from God.

Do you agree that you do not have what it takes to be saved?  How do you receive the love of truth from God?  How can you encourage others to do the same?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12

2 Thessalonians 2:6-8

2 Thessalonians 2:6-8

And you have known the thing that restrains, in order for him to be revealed in his season.  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work.  The one who restrains it now will do so until he should become out of the middle of it.  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will execute by the breath of His mouth and He will cause the appearance of His coming to come to an ends.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

This passage is difficult to interpret.  There is much debate over what exactly Paul means when he says, “the thing that restrains.”  Many classical scholars think that Paul is talking about the Roman Empire.  After all, it was the Roman Empire that actually saved Paul from the wrath of the Jews.  Therefore, Paul could have seen the Roman Empire as a source of stability in the world and that there would come a time when the Roman Empire would not be able to hold back human sinfulness and it would crumble.  That’s pretty much what happened, by the way.  There are other people who focus upon the “church” as the thing that restrains.  The people who think this do so for two reasons.  First of all, they correctly understand that the “thing” that restrains in v. 6 is a neuter participle, therefore it is not a person but a thing or an idea.  However, they then incorrectly get the idea that it is the church that will be removed, because the “one” who restrains in v. 7 is a masculine participle, not a neuter participle.  While we cannot be sure to what Paul is referring, I do believe that God is at the core of it.  God will continue to work in this world until He removes Himself.  He will continue to work in the world as long as people receive Him and are willing to listen to Him.

Are you saddened by the thought of God being removed from the world before the end will be ushered in?  What do you think is that which is holding back the end?

Second Thought:

I think there is a fair amount of truth in the phrase, “for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work.”  Actually, I think this is true on multiple levels.  First, there is a mystery in the lawlessness in that we don’t from where the ultimate rebellion will come.  On a more deep level, there is a certain mystery about human lawlessness in general.  When God is so good, why do human beings choose lawlessness at all?  We all do it, and it makes sense in at the time.  But in truth, lawlessness and sinful behavior really is a mystery.

Why do you participate in lawless and sinful behavior?  Is there any true logic in your choice?

Third Thought:

The good news, though, is that the outcome is clear.  Jesus will slay the lawless one.  Jesus will make his coming amount to nothing.  The outcome is not hanging in the balance.  We know what will happen.  The only question is when.

Does it make it easier to know the ultimate outcome?  Why is it easier to put up with not knowing the timing because we do know the final outcome?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

2 Thessalonians 2:3-5

2 Thessalonians 2:3-5

No one should deceive you all according to any manner, because unless the rebellion should come first and the man of lawlessness should be revealed – the son of destruction, the one who opposes and rises up in pride upon every so called god that is the object of worship – in order that he sits down in the temple of God while demonstrating publicly that he is a god.  Do you not remember that while I am yet with you that I was saying this to you all?

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul gives us an interesting perspective on the rebellion.  The rebellion is necessary.  Now, that doesn’t mean that the rebellion is necessarily from God.  However, the rebellion is necessary.  How else will the full scope of human depravity come out?  How else will humanity prove how deserving we are of judgment unless we are allowed to go into full rebellion?  The rebellion is not from God, but it is necessary for the rebellion to come through us to bring the dominion of sin to an end.

Do you understand why rebellion is necessary?  Does this make it something to be joyous about?

Second Thought:

Paul then speaks about the leader of the rebellion.  Paul calls his the son of destruction.  He is the man of lawlessness.  In other words, this leader of the rebellion will be self-serving.  He will not care about God’s law.  He will not care about a positive relationship towards creation and one another.  The son of destruction will be all about themselves, which is why they are such a destructive force.  They will be so much about themselves that they will even exalt themselves up as if they were a god.

Do you think that self-centeredness pairs up with lawlessness and destruction?  Where can you see this idea at work in the world around you?

Third Thought:

Finally, Paul reminds them that he taught the Thessalonians this information while he was with them.  This is not new information.  But this statement is true on many levels.  Of course, this was a part of Paul’s regular teaching.  People who are following Christ need to hear about what will lead up to Christ’s return.  However, this is true on a deeper level as well.  Humanity has always had the propensity for self-centered, destructive, and lawless behavior.  Human beings have always been interested in lifting themselves up as though we are gods.  This is absolutely nothing new to anyone familiar with studying human behavior.

Do you think this is still true of humanity today?  How have things changed since Paul’s day?  How have things remained the same?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

And we ask you all, brothers and sisters, regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering with Him, in order that you all are neither easily shaken from the mind nor troubled through spirit or word or letter as if through us that the day of the Lord has come.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

 When Paul speaks to the future, he wants to make sure that the Thessalonians are not easily moved from truth.  He wants to make sure that they are solid in belief.  Part of being in the Lord is being confident in the Lord.  The world will try and sway us from here to there and to get us to believe one thing or another.  We need to be strong.

Where are you strong in your faith?  When have you been weak?  How do you become confident in the faith?

Second Thought:

Paul also wants to make sure that the Thessalonians aren’t troubled, either.  As we are confident so as to not be swayed, we should be confident so as to not be worried, too.  If we take our faith seriously, we should be confident that God can take care of us, too.  If God is on our side, little should truly trouble us.

When are you troubled in life?  When have you been able to overcome a troubled feeling?  What makes that moment possible?

Third Thought:

Paul is concerned that the Thessalonians might be confused about the day of the Lord.  More to the point, Paul is concerned that they might think that they missed it.  There is a reason that Paul is concerned about this.  It could show that the Thessalonians do not understand what they are taught.  It could be that the Thessalonians are being convinced that there was a partial day of the Lord that they might have missed because they live in the wrong area or have the wrong bloodline.  Perhaps they were being convinced that Jesus had already returned and had set up Himself as king somewhere.  Whatever the case, Paul wants to set the record straight.  He wants them to know the truth.  When he sees a place of potential error, he wants to correct it.  That is something we can truly take to heart.

When have you seen someone believing something in error and sought to help them understand better?  Why would you do this?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Thessalonians 2:3-5

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Into this we also pray always regarding you all: in order that our God should regard you all worthy of the calling and fulfill both every good thing that pleases Him and every work of faith in His power so that the name of our Lord Jesus should be glorified in you all – and you all in Him – according to the grace of our God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I always marvel at Paul’s focus when he writes about what he prays for.  More often than not, Paul is praying with respect to the eternal salvation of another person.  Only sparingly do we find Paul praying for truly temporal needs.  I don’t mean this to imply that we shouldn’t pray for the temporal needs of others.  Of course we should.  But as often as we are praying for the temporal needs of others we should be mindful of the eternal condition of the other person’s soul.  We should be praying with an eternal mindset, not a temporal one.

When you pray, where is your focus?  Why is it easy to focus on the temporal needs of others?  Why is it easy to overlook the eternal needs in prayer? 

Second Thought:

Here is a neat thought.  Christ is glorified in us as we are glorified in Him.  If we think about this, doesn’t this make sense?  Doesn’t a teacher truly find glory in the students that come out from their tutelage?  Doesn’t a master craftsman truly find glory in the ability of their apprentices?  Why should a Lord find glory in His disciples?  But the other direction makes sense, too.  Does not a good student find glory in the teacher?  Does not a good apprentice find glory in the master craftsman?  Why shouldn’t the disciples find glory in the Lord, too?

How does it feel to realize that you will find glory in Christ?  How does it feel to know that Christ will find glory in you?

Third Thought:

Of course, as we close this initial chapter we find another great truth that we should remember.  All of this happens according to the grace of God.  Once more we a reminded that we don’t deserve glory in Christ.  We don’t deserve to be glorified in Christ, either.  We don’t deserve any of it.  We get it because God is gracious, plain and simple.

Is God gracious to you?  How do you know?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2