Believers Should Stand Firm

 Meditations on 2 Thessalonians

July 2, 2021

                  Believers Should Stand Firm                      

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Paul begins today’s passage by reminding the Thessalonians of their salvation—"a salvation that came through the Spirit who makes you holy and through your belief in the truth.” (v.13) Because of their right standing relationship with God, they (we) can “share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v.14) They were called, as we are called, to “stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching” Paul had provided them, both in person and through his letters. (v.15)

Paul then points to the fruit of our salvation – eternal comfort through our hope (remember this hope is full of confidence and assurance) of being at peace in the presence of God. Our hope, our assurance comes because we are saved by God’s grace through our faith in the person of Jesus Christ.

My Takeaway: Paul believed it is essential that we are completely convinced of our destiny to live eternally with the glorious Lord Jesus. This vision of our eternal hope enables us to stand firm and trust God to comfort us and strengthen us as we witness to the truth of Christ.

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.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the 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.

Events prior to the Lord’s Second Coming

 Meditations on 2 Thessalonians

July 1, 2021

Events prior to the Lord’s Second Coming

Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.

2 Thessalonians 2:12

Read: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Paul used relatively recent history, such as the former Roman emperor Caligula’s plan to erect a statue of himself in the Temple in Jerusalem, and current events to paint a picture of the total depravity that will overtake the culture and usher in the Day of the Lord. His intent was to affirm the certainty of Christ’s return in Final Victory, not give us a literal description of how Christ’s return will be revealed.

Paul’s discussion in today’s reading reminds me of Jesus’ teaching on the unforgiveable sin. (Matthew 12) The sin isn’t unforgiveable by God; it is the individual is so lost in their own way, they don’t want to change; they don’t ask for forgiveness. Thus, as Paul says, they enjoy evil rather than believe the truth.

My Takeaway: Paul’s message, then and now, is that many will turn from evil and turn to God, because of the witness of the followers of Jesus who refuse to compromise their faith on the altar of cultural relevance.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the 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.

 

More Encouragement

 Meditations on 2 Thessalonians

June 30, 2021

More Encouragement

So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call.

2 Thessalonians 1:11

Read: 2 Thessalonians 1: 7b-12

In the first half of today’s reading, Paul affirms that when Jesus returns, in glory and with mighty angels, he will bring judgement on the earth. Those who have made the choice to obey the Gospel will live eternally with the glorious Lord Jesus. Those who refused to obey Jesus will be eternally separated “from the Lord and from his glorious power.” (v.9)

How do we prepare to receive our glorious King? Recently, I led the pastoral prayer in my church, and I incorporated Paul’s encouragement in today’s passage into my prayer:

We ask you to enable us to live a life worthy of your call. Please empower us to accomplish all the good things our faith prompts us to do. Gracious Lord, it is the desire of our hearts that the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way we live, and we trust you are at work in our lives to bring this desire into a reality.

My Takeaway: Paul closed with a reminder that such prayers are not pie in the sky:

“This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (v.12)

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the 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.

Encouragement during Persecution

 Meditations on 2 Thessalonians

June 29, 2021

Encouragement during Persecution

Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 

Read: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-7a

This is one of the shortest of Paul’s letters. But if 2 Thessalonians was all you had, you would have all you need. The theological summary here is more than sufficient to ground an individual and a church in Christian principles for life.

Paul reminds the church that Christ is coming again. (As he did in every chapter of 1 Thessalonians.) In the words of the Nicene Creed, “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.” Paul assures the church that those who are in a right relationship with God through faith in Jesus will have no fear on that glorious day.

Paul also reminds the church that God knows of their persecution, and he knows of those who refuse to obey His truth. On the glorious day of Christ’s return, God’s justice will prevail and the faithful will be vindicated. For those who chose to go their own way and not be reconciled with God, they will get their wish for all eternity as they will be forever separated from Christ and His mighty power.

Paul reminds the church that to be in Christ is to live as a part of the Welcoming Committee for Jesus. We will get to greet Him on His glorious return and lead His procession. To be a part of the Welcoming Committee is to be working now to make ready our world and prepare for the arrival of our King. How do you do that? I have two answers to that question and they are both in the verse quoted above.

First, flourishing faith includes growth in knowledge and also the maturing of virtues such as integrity, temperance, courage, justice and mercy. Secondly, love for one another is hugely important to Jesus – see John 13:35 and Revelation 2:4.

My Takeaway: The church in Thessalonica was being persecuted because they stood with God over and against the prevailing culture of their times. Is my church? Do I cherish this promise?

“And God will use this persecution to show his justice

and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.” (v.5)

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the 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

Paul’s Final Greetings

 Meditations on 1 Thessalonians

June 28, 2021

Paul’s Final Greetings

Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5: 23-28

Maybe on first reading, Paul’s closing words seem perfunctory, just a way to sign off on his letter. However, I see every bit as much substance in this closing as is in the entire letter.

First, the opening two verses are sufficient to give me pause to ponder the direction of my life. Do I truly have an anticipation that God is making me holy in every way? Am I truly aware that God who called me is so faithful to me that He is working to make my entire life blameless as I look forward to the return of Christ in Final Victory?

Other points to ponder:

·         Am I as quick to ask for prayer as was Paul? (v.25)

·         Do I experience a sense of intimacy in my relationships within the Body of Christ? (v.26)

·         Am I continually aware that the authority to discharge the responsibilities of my calling come from Christ Jesus? (v.27)

My Takeaway: And may I always be like Paul and conclude my time with believers with an appropriate benediction:

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (v. 28)          

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the 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.

 

Paul’s Final Advice

 Meditations on 1 Thessalonians

June 25, 2021

Paul’s Final Advice

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22

Two things stand out to me in this passage. First, verses 16-22 are like a teacher’s aide in helping students learn the Christian way of life. (Like i before e except after c.) This is an affirmation of the very high standards of moral and ethical behavior in the Christian life. Remember from June 21, “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.  For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” (1Peter 1: 15-16)

In verse 10, Paul affirmed the basic Christian Creed: Christ died for us and rose again. Because of this, in verse 18, Paul can encourage us to be thankful in all circumstances. Sometimes Christians try to muster up faith that God will change their circumstance, and, thus, they can thankful in that hope. But Paul is teaching that regardless of whether the circumstances change, we can be thankful because Jesus, who died for us and rose again, has promised that He is always with us and that nothing can separate us from His love.

My Takeaway: Using this creed may be a good way to begin each day:

Jesus died for me and rose again.

Let this affirmation be ringing in our ears, and heart, as we venture out into the world today, and every day.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the 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.

 

Children of The Light

Meditations on 1 Thessalonians

June 24, 2021

Children of The Light

Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.

1 Thessalonians 5:10

1 Thessalonians     5          1-11

Paul, in verse 8, ends the letter where he began by affirming faith, hope and love. To make his point, he uses the metaphor of the armor of God which he will expand ten years later in chapter 6 of his letter to the Ephesians. The NLT uses the word ‘confidence’ of our salvation where other translations use the word ‘hope’ of our salvation. Do you see the connection? The morning I wrote this meditation, I woke up hoping Florida State University would win the Women’s College World Series that afternoon. But since they lost their game the previous night, my hope wasn’t a feeling of assurance. (They didn’t win the series, but had a great season! I’m proud to be a Seminole!)

However, Christian hope is having assurance, having confidence in the outcome; that is why those two words, hope and confidence, can be used interchangeably. The confident hope we have in Christ makes it possible for us to live as children of the light and of the day. (v.5) Because we are children of the light, we are protected by the armor of faith and love, and we wear as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. (v. 8)

My Takeaway: Today’s passage is a calling again to live holy lives with a patient trust in God. We do this by fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2 NIV)

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(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.

 

Copyright © 2021 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the 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.