“These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed – for our testimony to you was believed” (2 Thessalonians 1:9-10).

We are given the opportunity by the grace of God to be forever united with the Lord.  The default, the direction we are born heading, is away from the Lord.  It is not that the Lord sends anyone to hell, but that He has come so that as many as come to believe would be rescued from going into eternal separation from the Lord.  There will come that day when the final separation occurs.

Lord, help me to not listen to the voices of hatred which abound in this age.  Guide me to hear Your voice of love reaching out to lift me out of this hell-bound age of rebellion.  Lead me in the way of eternal life so that I would learn to be shed of those things which speak of rebellion and replace them with the things of love.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You know I need to go from rebellion into love.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, love incarnate, who has come so that all those who come into Your love would be lifted out of this world of rebellion and into the new life of love.  Guide me, Lord, in order that I may now and always humbly abide in You, knowing that You alone have the word of eternal life.  You are that Word and being invited into the life You give leads into salvation.  Lead me in the way of truth.  Amen.

“For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8).

When the rebellion is over, there will be two kinds of people, those who received the salvation of Jesus and those who continued their rebellion against the Lord.  There are both those who are a god unto themselves and the faithful who know that Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings.  Vengeance belongs to the Lord and He has promised that all things will work for good for those who love the Lord.

Lord, I do become angry and want vengeance.  But You teach me to love my neighbor and have a desire that they too come into the salvation You offer us all.  Teach me the balance I need to love my neighbor, but not fall into any temptation that may come through my rebellious neighbor.  Guide me, Lord, in living the life of faith You give me, learning how to be faithful in this world.

Lord Jesus, You will return to judge the living and the dead.  Help me to understand that this judgement belongs to You alone.  Help me to discern where I need to discern and to refrain from desiring anything other than the salvation You give me to be given to my neighbor as well.  As far as it concerns me, help me to be obedient to the Gospel which You have given me by grace through faith.  Amen.

“This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering” (2 Thessalonians 1:5).

This is not suffering for suffering’s sake but being persecuted for holding fast to the truth that has been revealed to you.  Meditate upon this, for there is a difference.  The suffering of persecution is for the sake of the kingdom.  It is a matter of seeing this current state of rebellion for what it is and living in reconciliation with Christ instead.  You will live what you believe.

Lord, teach me how to be consistent in the way of truth.  I am not, and I know this.  You have come that I may have life and have it abundantly.  This world seeks to take all that I have and consume it.  You take all the is temporary and replace it with all that is good and eternal.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting truth so that I may be guided by You alone in and through all things.

Come, Holy Spirit, and grant that I would have discernment in these things.  You have taken me to the deeper places where I see beyond this age and its shallow offerings.  Guide me to stay on course and finish the race You have set before me despite the spiritual rebellion that is all around me.  Through Your leading, I will become what has been intended that I be.  Lead me and teach me to follow.  Amen.

“[T]herefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure” (2 Thessalonians 1:4).

Unless you know what true persecutions are, you are better to remain silent.  There are those who have truly suffered for the cause of Christ.  The Lord knows and sees.  He who created you knows your circumstance.  In one sense, we all suffer, but each in different ways.  Hold to the faith you have been given and persevere knowing that God will grow in you what He intends.

Lord, let me never exaggerate the suffering I endure, yet also help me to own it and see it for what it is.  Guide me, Lord, so that I would be led by You alone and not tossed about as this world will try to do.  Lead me through all that comes my way that so I would hold fast to Your goodness and mercy.  You are the One who has always been there, for You are the One through whom all things have been made.

Lord Jesus, I was created for You and it is not the other way round.  Guide me, O Lord, in order that I would forever hold fast to what You teach me.  Let me never be conformed to this world, but in spite of what it may do to me, hold me fast to the truth You have revealed.  In firmness of faith may I speak the truth, example Your presence, and live peaceably with all in the community in which You have placed me.  Amen. 

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater” (2 Thessalonians 1:3)

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen.  We live in a physical world where we hope for the best and trust what we can see.  The Lord calls us to hope for eternity with Him and to trust that all He has said is true.  Come into the faith the Lord gives you and watch it grow.  Be guided by the One who truly can do what He says.

Lord, whatever it takes, lead me away from any thinking that keeps me apart from You and bring me to the place where I understand these things are true.  Let me see the tug-of-war in this age so that I may see the measure of faith You have given me be increased and not be shaken by the antics of this world.  Through all that comes, may You be the One who leads me as I grow in knowledge, understanding and wisdom through Your leading.

Come, Holy Spirit, wisdom incarnate.  Lead me in wisdom to be discerning and know that in You all things come together according to the Father’s will.  Help me this day to make those steps which will increase my faith.  Help me to see more clearly those things which will help me to trust and walk by that faith.  Guide me through all of this to become what You have already determined I need to be.  Amen.

“Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:1-2).

It takes a team to make big things happen.  This second letter to Thessalonica continues in the ongoing dialog all workers have with the church.  The workers come serving the Lord and there are always things that must be dealt with.  It shall not be this way in eternity, but it is here in this sphere of sin.  See the pattern and be a part of the cure and not a part of the problem.  Live in the Lord as you have been called to do.

Lord, it does seem strange and yet not so strange that in every generation there are those who continue in the pattern of this world.  Lead me out of that pattern and into the routine of doing things the heavenly way.  Guide me now and always to see that in You is all hope and the only future worth living.  Guide me to know that You have come that we may have abundant hope.

Lord Jesus, the blessing of Trinity is always with us because of what You have done to reconcile us by grace through faith.  Teach me each day how to trust more and more that the faith You have given me may lead me deeper into You.  Help me receive the workers You send so that I may be guided according to Your will.  Through all things, may I be blessed in this new life You have given me.  Amen.

“Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.  I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (1 Thessalonians 5:26-28).

Paul was constantly seeking to have the faith be strengthened in every fellowship.  That admonition should not change amongst us either.  We should continue to gather and hear God’s Word, seek wisdom and understanding and live in harmony with one another.  The mark of affection ought to be what covers all that we do.  We need to heed what Paul adjures us to do.

Lord, help me to listen and heed the words You have given in Scripture.  Help me to take them all in.  Let me not be carried away by the insanity of this world but be conformed to the Word which You have already given.  Guide me to live in harmony with the fellowship in which You have placed me.  Let all be covered by Your eternal love which You have richly lavished upon us through Christ.

Lord Jesus, You came as the Incarnate love of God poured out for our sake.  Lead me to practice the love You have given me with those who are around me.  Plant deep into my soul the truth of Your word and guide me according to the will of the Father.  Through all things that come this day, help me to look to You, seeking to be faithful, so that all I do might be pleasing to the Father.  Amen. 

“Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.  Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:24-25).

To be faithful means to address the place where another is placing their faith.  You place your faith in Christ, and rightly so, for He has accomplished salvation for all who believe.  He for whom and through whom all things were made has reached out to you so that you may have life and have it abundantly.  Come then into His grace and see that all He has promised He will bring to pass.

Lord, I know these ideas but often fall short of the faith to trust that it is as You say.  Help my unbelief so that I may know that You are always faithful and that my feelings are no place in which to have faith.  Yet You know that I struggle, so help me amidst the struggles I have so that I would learn how to be faithful as You are faithful.  Lead me in the way of sanctification that I too may be faithful.

Lord Jesus, You were faithful unto death, even death on a cross.  You were faithful while those around You fled and denied You.  You were faithful through all the struggles life brings.  Lead me to learn from You that I too may know how to be faithful.  In Your grace, perfect me according to the Father’s will in order that I would be one who is made in Your image.  You are the finisher of my faith.  Finish me Lord Jesus.  Amen.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Complete is the better word to use when thinking of perfect.  Christ has come that we may be made complete in and through Him.  He has given us His Spirit and His heart.  We who are now less than the angels shall then be greater.  This is a mystery, but the truth is that He has told us what He is doing.  Come then into the journey of being made complete even as He is complete.

Lord, I often act as one who needs nothing more, yet inside, the older I get the more I realize that I am far from complete.  There is so much that needs to be done.  Yet, You have said over and again that Your grace is sufficient for me. Lead me in the journey of faith in order that I would not be caught up in the insanity of this world’s constant lying, but stand firm in Your truth, grace and mercy.

Lord Jesus, You have come to make all things new.  In You, the journey of becoming begins.  Help me look to You each day for what You bring knowing that only in You can I become what You have always intended.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of true life and help me not to resist the grace You give me.  You know all that is needed.  Help me live looking to You for all things.  Amen.

“Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances.  But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22).

Perhaps the best words for our day are the simple words, “Examine everything carefully.”  Too often we take things as we hear them and do not give it a second thought.  True, we take things on authority, but that does not mean we should not test to see if what is said is true.  Take it all in and the Holy Spirit will sift through and help you to see what is right and true.  Listen and learn.

Lord, You know how much false information is out there.  So many are saying all kinds of things and much of it is not true, or so twisted as to be the same as a lie.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may always look to You so see what is right and true.  Help me to not be caught up with what others believe without substantiation, but always take all things in first and then in You discern what is true by Your revelation.

Come, Holy Spirit, and stir my mind to not be offended at lies, for they are all around me.  Help me sift through things so that I may see what is right and fitting amongst all the lies that swirl around me.  Teach me how to examine everything carefully in order that I may know what is evil and abstain from those things.  Teach me to hold fast to all that is right and good.  Guide me now and always in truth.  Amen.