Devotionals: 2 Thessalonians Archives

The Presence and Grace of Christ

By Andrew YoungApril 19, 2018Devotionals: 2 Thessalonians

“The Lord be with all of you… the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16, 18) Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 I mentioned yesterday that the opening and ending greetings of Paul’s letters are often deceptively rich in spiritual content. The final words of this letter to the Thessalonians are a case in point. We have noted that Paul desired that his readers would know the peace of Christ “at all times and in every way” (2 Thessalonians 3:16). He also desired that all of them would know Christ’s presence and grace. Both of […]

The Possibility of Peace

By Andrew YoungApril 18, 2018Devotionals: 2 Thessalonians

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way…” (2 Thessalonians 3:16) Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 Paul ends his second letter to the Thessalonians with a greeting, one, in fact, which he wrote with his “own hand” (2 Thessalonians 3:17). He seems to have dictated his letters to a scribe or secretary and at the very end, taken up the stylus or pen to write the last words of greeting. It is always tempting to gloss over the opening and closing greetings of Paul’s letters. We are eager to get into […]

More on Idleness

By Andrew YoungApril 17, 2018Devotionals: 2 Thessalonians

“We hear that some among you are idle.” (2 Thessalonians 3:11) Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:11-15 Paul has more to say on the subject of idleness. He has already warned faithful brothers and sisters not to associate with people who are idle and given reasons for doing so based on his example of industrious living. Here, he repeats this exhortation. He sees it necessary to do so because this is apparently a real issue in the church in Thessalonica. “We hear that some among you are idle,” he says (2 Thessalonians 3:11). He describes such offenders as “not busy; they […]

No Room for Idleness

By Andrew YoungApril 13, 2018Devotionals: 2 Thessalonians

“…keep away from every brother who is idle…” (2 Thessalonians 3:6) Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10 Just when we think Paul has finished this letter, he introduces another subject – a warning against idleness. “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,” he writes, underscoring his words with the authority of Jesus, “we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us” (2 Thessalonians 3:6). His language is strong. He is issuing a “command” here, and one that calls upon people to “keep away from […]

Life in the Lord

By Andrew YoungApril 12, 2018Devotionals: 2 Thessalonians

“But the Lord is faithful…” (2 Thessalonians 3:3) Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5 I began yesterday’s devotional by commenting on the character of a truly “spiritual” person. They are those whose lives are engaged in interactive fellowship with God and his invisible kingdom. The verses before us today further illustrate what that kind of life means. Three times in these three verses Paul refers to “the Lord”. First, he declares that “the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). For Paul, the Lord Jesus was a real person who was […]

Praying for Evangelists

By Andrew YoungApril 11, 2018Devotionals: 2 Thessalonians

“Finally, brothers, pray for us….” (2 Thessalonians 3:1) Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3:1, 2 It has been said that spiritual people are not those who engage in particular religious activities but those who live their lives in constant interaction with the unseen heavenly realm. By that definition, Paul was indeed a “spiritual” man. For we see him here, as he nears the end of his second letter to the Thessalonians, appealing to his friends to pray for him (2 Thessalonians 3:1). What is this but an expression of a life lived in an atmosphere of dependence upon God? In this […]

Strengthened in Deed and Word

By Andrew YoungApril 10, 2018Devotionals: 2 Thessalonians

“May [He]…strengthen you in every good deed and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:17) Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 We need to keep in mind that this letter was written to a church suffering persecution and heavy trials. There were also at least a number of people” unsettled and alarmed” by reports that the day of the Lord had already come (2 Thessalonians 1:4; 2:2). Paul’s purpose throughout it is to encourage the church as a whole to continue strong in the faith as it waits for the Lord to return. In these verses, he expresses another prayer-wish for the Thessalonian believers. […]

Loved, Chosen, Called, Saved

By Andrew YoungApril 9, 2018Devotionals: 2 Thessalonians

“…from the beginning God chose you to be saved…” (2 Thessalonians 2:13) Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15 I confess that I have sighed with relief this morning as we have moved from considering the “man of lawlessness” to another more positive topic. As important as it has been to read and ponder the emergence of this satanic agent in the future, it is so much better to come into the sunshine of the gospel again. And how bright the light that greets us as we turn to the verses before us. The apostle, in the immediately preceding context, has been […]

Lying Signs and Wonders

By Andrew YoungApril 8, 2018Devotionals: 2 Thessalonians

“The coming of the lawless one… is with all power and false signs and wonders.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9) Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 We have one more section relating to the man of lawlessness to look at. It deals with the manner of his coming – the kinds of actions he will perform. Paul tells us that they will be “in accordance with the work of Satan” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). His activities will be displayed in “all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil…” (vs. 9, 10). Satan is the great deceiver. He seeks […]

Held Back

By Andrew YoungApril 7, 2018Devotionals: 2 Thessalonians

“And now, you know what is holding him back…” (2 Thessalonians 2:6) Bible Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8 In this larger section (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12), we have the fullest treatment in the New Testament of the emergence of a powerful anti-God figure at the end of history. While it is not particularly edifying to read about such a person, it is nevertheless part of what we need to know to face the future with calmness and strength. Paul had obviously spoken at some length with the Thessalonians about this figure while he was with them (v. 5). He had told them […]