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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
2 Thes. 1
Patience is a big part of faith. In fact, I don’t think you can have faith without it. I hear a gentle exhortation for patience in Paul’s greeting of encouragement to the Thessalonians. There is a reason for our suffering. And if we persevere in our faith, enduring our afflictions, God’s judgment will come. He will turn the tables on His oppressors. Thus, the affliction we endure for a time will be theirs to endure for eternity.
2 Thes. 2
I see a correlation to the exodus from Egypt in what Paul wrote about Christ’s second coming. He wrote about the coming of the lawless one, who seems in almost every way to be an imitation of Christ, right down to the miraculous signs and wonders. As Christ’s own, this fraud should not draw us in. Those who do not accept God’s truth, however, will give in to that lie. Because they hardened their hearts to the truth, “…God sends them a strong delusion so that they will believe the lie, so that all will be condemned” (2 Thes. 2:11-12a). That is the same thing that happened to Pharaoh. He refused to believe God so God turned him over to the lie he desired.
Make no mistake – God will draw a line in the sand. There will be no middle ground; no riding fences. Each of us will choose whom we serve. Any who refuse to accept the truth will be made to accept the lie. There is no escape from God’s righteous judgement except through Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God.
2 Thes. 3
I come back to the question of “once saved, always saved” every now and then. This isn’t because I question my salvation at all, but because I wonder about statements in the Bible that indicate people can and do turn from the faith after having tasted God’s goodness. It seems to me that as long as we genuinely desire God’s grace, He is faithful to give it. However, we still have the option to reject it at any time. I’m not talking about losing our focus and straying off the righteous path (hello, King David!), but, rather, making a very direct and intentional choice to reject God. I don’t know how or why, but it seems that sometimes happens.
There is another aspect to the question, though, that I had not considered until I heard someone mention it fairly recently. Paul touches on it with a statement he made in this chapter. He said, “But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” (2 Thes. 3:3). God has the power to keep what is His. It is He who gives us the faith to believe and the strength to endure. Thus, His faithfulness in us will keep us faithful to Him. As I said, I don’t know how or why anybody would turn away from God after placing their trust in Him. What I do know, though, is that this question isn’t one that needs to concern us. God is faithful, His salvation is sure, and He holds fast to a heart that is His. How can we lose with that?