We Will Serve The Lord

November 10, 2016

We Will Serve The Lord

Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil

rather than believing the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:12

In the Gospel of Matthew, after Jesus has healed a man, the Pharisees condemned Jesus and accused him of using the power of Satan to perform his miracles. Jesus responded: “So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven—except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven” (Matthew 12:31). The reason this sin will not be forgiven is that a person blaspheming the Holy Spirit is so self-absorbed they never humble themselves before God and seek forgiveness. Jesus was pointing to a human condition that Paul also addressed in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Paul said such people refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them and thus, they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth!

There seem to be parallels between life in Thessalonica and life in our present times. We are confronted by the signs of abject evil, as well as a culture that celebrates lifestyles that are so very far removed from Jesus’ promise: “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10).

In this passage, Paul discusses his vision of the end times before Christ comes again, and it is difficult to grasp all the details Paul offers. But one thing is clear to me: Paul recalls the challenge of Joshua and encourages the Thessalonians to hold tightly to the life in Christ they have chosen.

“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly.

But if you refuse to serve the Lord,

then choose today whom you will serve.

But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord”

(Joshua 24: 14-15 selected portions).

 

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.