2 Thessalonians 2
Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Observation-What does it say? This second letter from Paul to the church in Thessalonica came only several months after the first. He wrote it with the intention of clearing up questions left from the first letter, primarily concerning Christ’s return. The second chapter discusses a great rebellion against God, which will be headed by the “lawless one.” Before this time there are forces opposing evil, but when this day comes these will be no more. Victory will then come when Christ appears. Paul encourages the Thessalonians to stand firm in their faith until the day of his return.
Understanding-What does it mean? Sometimes, I think I may be the luckiest guy in the world. Generally speaking, there is nowhere I would rather be than at home. This has mostly to do with the people who are there to make it the best place in the world to be. In comparison to some families mine is still quite young, Jen and I have only been married for twelve years. But, we have already outlasted the national average by about four years. Either way I still love spending time with her and our boys. When I am away from home, I have faith in her that she will still be there when I come home. But, how did I come to this faith in her? It was through spending time with her that I have come to know her heart and the little things that make her tick.
Similarly, how do we hold strong to a faith in Christ in the face of the adversity the world throws at us? Much like I have faith in Jen, our faith in Christ grows through getting to know Him. Getting to know him, having a secure relationship with him comes through prayer and time spent reading His words to us, the Bible. With all the uncertainty in the world, it could be easy to give up all hope. However, God has promised to carry us through the uncertain time. We need only to meet with Him to receive the peace he brings.
Prayer, though, is more than just asking God for things. C.S. Lewis explains it this way, in his essay The Efficacy of Prayer, “Prayer is either a sheer illusion or a personal contact between embryonic, incomplete persons (ourselves) and the utterly concrete Person. Prayer in the sense of petition, asking for things, is a small part of it; confession and penitence are its threshold, adoration its sanctuary, the presence and vision and enjoyment of God its bread and wine. In it God shows Himself to us. That He answers prayers is a corollary—not necessarily the most important one—from that revelation. What He does is learned from what He is.”