3rd Week, II Thessalonians

Week Three, II Thessalonians 

Monday, Introduction

II Thessalonians Intro

Jeanie Boldt

THOUGHT

This letter was written by Paul about 2 months after he had sent the first letter to Thessalonica. Many in the church were confused about the timing of Christ’s return. Many thought that He could come at any moment so they stopped working for the Lord and just waited. Adding fuel to the fire was the

continued persecution of the church. Many felt that indeed this must be the “Day of the Lord”.

Responding quickly, Paul sent a second letter to this young church. In it he gave further instruction concerning the second coming and the day of the Lord. The letter begins with Paul’s trademark greeting. He mentions their perseverance in spite of their persecution and trials and uses this situation

to broach the subject of Christ’s return. Paul shared that at this time Christ will vindicate the righteous who endure and will punish the wicked.

We are closer to Christ’s second coming than the Thessalonians and Paul, and it would be wrong of us to be in idle waiting and heavenward gazing. Being prepared for His coming means spreading the gospel, reaching out to those in need and building the church.

Let us read and meditate on the second letter that Paul wrote.

PRAYER

Father God, help us learn and grow from Paul and the letter he wrote to this church in Christ. May we learn and grow in the understanding about the second coming. Help us to keep first in mind and in heart the spreading of Your good news. Thank You, Jesus, for Your Saving Grace. AMEN

Tuesday, Read Chapter 1

II Thessalonians 1  

Verse 11

Mindy Strayer

Verse 11:  With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

THOUGHT

Our calling is to be like Christ, an example to the world. In the message version of the Bible the apostle Paul’s prayer was that God would fill our good ideas and acts of faith with His own energy so that it amounts to something. He says that God’s grace is behind and through all of our good ideas and acts of faith. 

It is comforting to know that God will do something with all of our efforts that are done to portray Christ and carry out God’s will for our lives. I found this to be so encouraging. We may not see much if any fruition of our good ideas or acts of faith at times, but we know that God’s grace will carry them and at some point pull them together so that they fulfill the plans and purposes of God. 

So, be encouraged, Salt Shakers. Nothing said or done by faith is in vain or thrown out the window to be lost forever. We should thank God for all of the goodness that He puts inside our hearts. 

PRAYER

Thank You for Jesus Christ who loves us so much.  May God’s face shine upon us.  AMEN

Wednesday, Read Chapter 2

II Thessalonians 2

Verse 1

Tanya Ruden

Verse 1:  Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.

THOUGHT

I was excited when I read the passage for today, and it spoke of Jesus’ coming. Our sermon yesterday was on the apocalypse. The apocalypse is basically an unveiling, and the pastor spoke a lot on people who have predicted when Jesus was coming again. He had pages and pages of predictions and prophecies from reputable people when that day was going to happen, and all of them were so wrong.  The truth is - only God knows when that day will come, and the more we get caught up on the timing, the more we are not focusing on the Word of God. 

We must live each day as if it might be today.  We can’t procrastinate at telling people about God or forgiving others or doing what God calls us to do. We must profess and live our faith each day. And if we begin to do this, everything else will fall into perspective. 

So don’t let any prophecy consume you.  Only let the Bible consume you.  Please know that no prophet knows the day or hour — only God.

PRAYER

Dear God, we are getting ready to celebrate the coming of Your Son to earth to save us from our sin.  As we reflect on that 1st coming over 2000 years ago, help us to focus only on You and Your grace and mercy and not become consumed with attempting to guess the hour when You will come again. AMEN

Thursday, Read Chapter 3

II Thessalonians 3

Verse 3

Tanya Ruden

Verse 3:  The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.

THOUGHT

Isn’t it so true?  God is faithful!!  I think sometimes we think; where is God? It is much like the footprints poem when there is only one set of footprints. So often we look at God and say “Why?” or “How can this happen?”, and yet He is always faithful. He has never once not lived up to His promise. He is also the only one who can strengthen us and protect us from the evil one. 

We must ask for His strength and remember to turn to Him to provide it. We are currently in unprecedented economic time. I think sometimes we wonder, “What is God’s role in all of this?”  But we must remember He is in control of our lives if we allow him to be, and He will protect us.

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, Your example of faithfulness is something we should all strive to live up to. May we strive to be as faithful as You, not only in our faith, but also in our relationships, work, etc.  Please protect us from the evil one. May he not have any part of our lives.  Do NOT allow him into our thoughts, our homes, etc. We love You, Jesus. AMEN

Friday, Thanking The Lord for the Word of God

Our Prayer

Thank You that in Your Word we can see Your face and hear Your voice.  We can discover Your will and Your patterns for living and serving.  We can develop deeper faith and confidence.   Thank You that the Holy Spirit inspired Your Word and uses it to enlighten and guide us, and change us more and more into Your image from one degree to another.  AMEN.