Abide Together: Reflections from 2 Thessalonians 2 and 3

In 2 Thessalonians Paul warns the Church at Thessalonica not to let anyone deceive them that the 2nd coming of Christ has come and they missed it.  Before the 2nd coming of Christ there must first be the man of lawlessness who comes and sets himself up as God.  Instead of worrying that they missed the 2nd coming of Christ, they need to stand firm and pursue Christ where they are.  Lord, help me not focus so much on what is to come at the expense of being faithful in the here in now and pointing other to Jesus.

In 2 Thessalonians 3 Paul asks the Church at Thessalonica to pray for him and his companions that the word of the Lord would grow rapidly.  Paul warns them to have nothing to do with those who are unruly and lazy.  He encourages them not to grow weary in doing good.  He ends with “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”  It is only by God’s grace that they will be able to do all the Lord calls them to.  Lord, by your grace may I not grow weary in doing good.