Feasting on God's Word (One Year Bible)

2 Thessalonians 1:1-2:12 Lord, we thank You that Your Son, Jesus, is coming again. For “all those who have believed”, “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” will be a great Day, the Day of celebration, the Day of our salvation, the Day of “our being gathered together in Him” (2 Thessalonians 2:1 & 1:10). It will also be a Day of judgment for “those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). You speak to us about the future – about salvation and judgment. You’re inviting us to have a heart-to-heart talk with You. From Your heart, You speak to us of Your love for us – and “Your desire for us to be saved” (John 3:17 & 2 Peter 3:9). Help us to say, from our hearts, “Yes, Lord. I believe in the Lord Jesus. I trust in Your promise – ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved'” (Acts 16:31). 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:18 “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in all ways” (2 Thessalon...

Jeremiah 32:17 tells us that nothing is too hard for the “Sovereign Lord”, the Creator of “the heavens and the earth.” He is able to deliver us “from wicked and evil men”, to “strengthen and protect us from the evil one” ( 2 Thessalonians 3:2-3 ). We are enabled to persevere because “the Lord directs our hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance” ( 2 Thessalonians 3:5 ). As the Lord Himself leads us in His love, leading us not into temptation and delivering us from evil, He “removes the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith” ( Proverbs 25:4 ).

In the Christian life, there is always the problem of the false or counterfeit which opposes the true or authentic. In Jeremiah 29:31 , we read about the false prophet. In 2 Thessalonians 2:9 , we read about “the lawless one.” There are also the promises of God’s blessing ( Jeremiah 31:1-6 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 ). As we consider the contrast between the false and the true, we must learn to say, “Turn my eyes from worthless things; preserve my life according to Your Word” ( Psalm 119:37 ).

There was a message of hope ( Jeremiah 29:11 ), but, first, God’s people had to suffer seventy years of captivity in Babylon ( Jeremiah 29:10 ). There is a glorious hope - “He comes to be glorified in His holy people and to be marvelled at among all those who have believed” ( 2 Thessalonians 1:10 ), but, first, we must endure “persecutions and trials”, suffering for “the Kingdom of God ” ( 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 ). There are difficult times - “My soul is weary with sorrow” ( Psalm 119:28 ), but there is also strengthening - “Strengthen me according to Your Word” ( Psalm 119:28 ). In each of these passages, there is a wholesome combination of realism and faith.