Tag: 2 Thessalonians

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Numbers 24 Listen: (3:37) Read: 2 Thessalonians 1 Listen: (1:52)

Scripture Focus: 2 Thessalonians 1.6-10

6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

Reflection: Hope for the Troubled

By John Tillman

The Thessalonian believers were “troubled.”

One trouble was being lied to by false teachers who spoke in Paul’s (and God’s) name. Another trouble was being persecuted by Jewish and Roman authorities. To those troubled with suffering, oppression, and confusion, Paul wrote of justice and hope.

Have you felt similar “troubles” as the Thessalonians? Most of us haven’t been persecuted, banned, or arrested for speaking or living out Jesus’ words but we may have been pushed into panic mode by perilous false prophecy. Jesus warned we would have troubles. (John 16.1-4, 33)

As Paul did for the Thessalonians, he does for us—Paul promises justice and holds out hope.

The troubled will be relieved of trouble and God will pay back trouble as justice to those who troubled them and did not “obey the gospel.”

The gospel commands humans to repent of wickedness, be forgiven and reconciled to God in Jesus Christ, and enter the presence and glory of our creator for eternity. (2 Thess 1.8-9) Disobeying the gospel is choosing darkness over light and separation over reconciliation. They demand darkness and destruction and God grants it. (Hosea 10.8; Luke 23:29-30; Revelation 6.15-17)

God’s justice means no one will “get away” with anything, ever. The gospel means anyone can be forgiven of anything forever. Any troublemaker can be saved. Any who reject the gospel will be destroyed.

There is encouragement from knowing our troubles are not overlooked and justice will be done. However there is a difference between being encouraged by justice and longing for vengeance.

Hope shapes our lives, but the wrong object of hope leads to a misshapen life. Hoping in God’s justice is encouraging. Longing for vengeance is embittering.

Placing hope in the gospel, not destruction, changes things.

It changes how you view your sufferings. They are opportunities for faithfulness.

It changes how you view your persecutors. They are lost children in need of reconciliation.

It changes what you desire. Salvation is greater than destruction or vengeance.

It changes how you define victory. Eternal things are greater than earthly things.

Our calling is the ministry of reconciliation, not retribution. (2 Corinthians 5.18-19) Therefore, do not hope for the destruction of those who trouble us but for their salvation. (Acts 26.28-29) Rather than be reactive, panicked, or vengeful, be active, peaceful, and restorative.

Our hearts, filled with the right kind of hope, rejoice in an enemy’s salvation more than in their destruction. In Christ, both outcomes are part of God’s good justice.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

My God, my rock in whom I put my trust, my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my refuge; you are worthy of praise. — Psalm 18.2

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime

 by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Too Good Not to Be True

The preacher is apt to preach the gospel with the high magic taken out, the deep mystery reduced to a manageable size.

Too Good Not to Be True

Read more: Both Parts of Justice

Sometimes protecting or establishing justice necessitates violence. However…Justice isn’t putting out eyes. It’s seeing needs get met.

Both Parts of Justice

Scripture Focus: 2 Thessalonians 2.3-4; 9-10
3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

Reflection: Wary but not Paranoid
By John Tillman

In Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, Sauron’s physical form is twisted and horrific, matching the darkness of his motives and methods.

As fans discussed early episodes of the Rings of Power series, they speculated about which character was Sauron. When this was finally revealed, fans of Tolkien’s work were not surprised that the character is very attractive.

Sauron was one of a group of immortal beings called the “Ainur.” He came in the disguise of a “fair man,” tricking the elves into helping him make the rings of power.

Tolkien reflected on two things as he molded the mythology of his Lord of the Rings universe: The Bible and World War II. It is no accident that there are similarities in Sauron’s path to power and downfall that mirror Satan and the Axis powers.

Paul reassured the Thessalonians about “End Times” anxieties. Some unidentified leaders had given some false information. Paul corrects them saying that before the end, “the rebellion” must occur and the “man of lawlessness” must be revealed. We have no shortage of rebellions and insurrections today. We have no shortage of lawless men. Is one of them THE man of lawlessness?

Jesus warned the disciples not to believe those claiming he had appeared, saying, “He’s over there! He’s in here!” (Luke 17.23; Matthew 24.26) We should have similar doubts about those claiming this leader or that one is the Antichrist.

Most of those pointing fingers at Antichrists are pointing at people they already hate or dislike. More than anything else, this indicates they are probably wrong. An unbelieving friend of mine says that the Antichrist is probably Ryan Seacrest, or someone equally as attractive and appealing. He’s probably right—not about the individual, but about the method. 

The Antichrist will come, according to Paul, “in accordance with how Satan works.” (v. 9) If this is true, the outer package will be appealing. So what should we do? Only trust non-attractive people? Follow people we dislike? What do we do to prevent being deceived? Paul says, “love the truth and be saved.” (v. 10)

Like Sauron, even after the success of Satan’s deceptions, dark lords and men of lawlessness will fall before Jesus. We should be wary but not paranoid. Cautious but not in crisis. If we hold fast to Christ and love the truth more than human leaders no “man of lawlessness” will fool us for long.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence
You are my helper and my deliverer; do not tarry, O my God. — Psalm 40.19

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
Numbers 25 (Listen 2:20)
2 Thessalonians 2 (Listen 2:32)

Read more about Things Even Angels Question
End times prophecies are one of those areas in which well meaning believers can start missing the forest for the trees.

Things Even Angels Question

Read more about Supporting Our Work
Our ad-free content brings biblical devotionals to inboxes across the world. Support us by becoming a one-time or recurring donor today.

Supporting our Work

Scripture Focus: 2 Thessalonians 3.7-9
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.

From John: The Park Forum has nearly always been a bi-vocational ministry and remains so. We are so thankful for our donors who continue to make this ministry possible. Follow this link to leave a note saying “thank you” to our donors such as the one below from David.

“I would like to thank each donor who has helped make Park Forum available to us in 3rd world countries surrounded by such great needs.” — David, South Africa

Reflection: Work, Ministry, and Generosity
By John Tillman

Paul lived differently among different groups determined by their maturity, their cultural influences, and their spiritual needs. Among some groups, he accepted and deeply relied on financial support. Among some groups, he paid his own way and worked in a secular trade in addition to serving the gospel. Paul said, “I have become all things to all people…” for the sake of the gospel.

Among the Thessalonians, Paul accepted no financial support, perhaps due to the fact that they were under greater persecution and hardship than others, or perhaps simply because he felt they needed the example of his hard labor. Paul served the Thessalonians, not only with his ministry work but with his “secular” work and using the gifts of other churches. 

The question for believers is, which church are you? Are you receiving ministry funded by others or are you supporting ministry to others in need? The answer may be “both” or the answer may change as your circumstances change.

Many ministers, especially bi-vocational ministers, feel deeply these words of Paul, “we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.” Pray this weekend especially for pastors and ministers who are laboring to serve the gospel—many of them bi-vocational, working one or more secular jobs to support their ministry. Consider your level of financial support for those ministries to which you are connected.

For those who are financial supporters of their churches and other ministries, giving can be a way of bringing greater meaning to the workplace. Work of any kind is already a holy endeavor for the Christian as we are commanded to work “as unto the Lord.” But if one is donating a certain percentage of one’s income, then as one goes through the day’s work, one can prayerfully remember, as each hour passes, the percentage of that hour that is being given over to support Christ’s work in the world.

Spiritual growth always has a purpose that we become more like Christ. As believers, our generosity is just one area in which the Holy Spirit may challenge us to grow. Financially supporting ministry work connects us more closely to the work and ministry of Christ. Growing in giving causes us to be made more into the image and pattern of Christ. Generosity transforms our work into an instrument for cultivating faith—planting seeds for the spreading of the gospel of Christ. 

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting
But you, O Lord my God, oh, deal with me according to your Name; for your tender mercy’s sake, deliver me.
For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. — Psalm 109.20-21

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Today’s Readings
2 Kings 3 (Listen – 4:29)
2 Thessalonians 3 (Listen – 2:16)

This Weekend’s Readings
2 Kings 4 (Listen – 6:17), 1 Timothy 1 (Listen – 2:59)
2 Kings 5 (Listen – 5:13), 1 Timothy 2 (Listen – 1:38)

Read more about How to Know When to Give
As the Corinthians’ generosity caused Paul to celebrate, may our generosity bring joy and refreshment to those doing good in the world.

How to Know When to Give

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The bright light of the widow’s faith shines within the darkness of hypocrisy and abuse.

The Context of The Widow’s Mite