Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.
Fun Fact: When I was younger, I was petrified of the End Times and anything that was even slightly connected to the book of Revelation. It was so bad that at one point my mom talked about me having to go talk to Jeff Clark about it. I don’t remember if I actually did or not, but I do know that fear and hesitation never truly left. Among my family and friends, it was just known that my anxiety would skyrocket if this topic was mentioned.
It’s gotten better over the years, but there is still a hesitation, an uneasiness around this topic. So imagine my shock when I learned that I was assigned 1 and 2 Thessalonians to write on! God definitely has a sense of humor and is apparently trying to teach me something.
“Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun.” 2 Thessalonians 2:2
I feel like we could just stop at that verse. There really isn’t any more to say after that, right? But if we jump to verse 15, we see clearly how God actually would like us to handle these uneasy feelings and decipher the truth from lies. “With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and in letter.”
The Bible is clear that there will be plenty of false prophets in the last days. Paul talks about it, but it's also mentioned throughout other books of the Bible. We can see that clearly today. I mean, just scroll through TikTok and you’ll find someone claiming to be speaking the truth but actually spewing lies, and unless we have the Word thoroughly memorized and known, it is so easy to be deceived. And with deception comes that uneasiness again.
If we are to not only grow in our faith but also stand firm in the midst of the lies the world throws at us, we must know the Word of God. It must be written on our hearts. I know I for one am in dire need to rectify that.
Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.
Reflection:
- Turn to Psalm 119:25-32. Take a moment to meditate on those verses, pray, and like the Psalmist, hold fast to His teachings.
Family Devo: 2 Thessalonians 2
By: Anna Beth Scott
When partnering with your family to know, love, and follow Jesus, we strive to create and share content filtered by the Head-Heart-Hands model.
Head: the knowledge of God and His Word | Heart: the personal connection from scripture | Hands: a missional mindset
Head
In chapter two of 2 Thessalonians, Paul addresses the church’s concerns about the return of Jesus. There had been false prophets that said Jesus had already come and they had all been left behind. Many believers thought this was true and they were scared. Paul tells the church that this is not true and to not listen to false prophets. He explains there are certain events that will happen before Jesus returns to Earth. He says there is a “man of lawlessness” that will be revealed. In verse 8 he says, “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.” He warns that there will be “counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders” and that people who refuse to love the truth and be saved will perish. He ends this chapter by urging the church to stand firm and hold to the teachings of Christ. In verses 16-17, he prays, “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.”
Heart
There’s a lot of uncertainty in regard to the exact details of how Jesus will return to Earth. Even some commentators aren’t quite sure exactly what Paul was saying in this chapter. That can sometimes cause us to feel uneasy and challenge our faith and peace. However, Paul reminds us that Jesus is stronger than the evil one and will defeat him once and for all. He tells us to stand firm in Christ, the one whose grace gives us eternal encouragement and good hope. The encouragement and hope we get from Jesus doesn’t just last for today or while we are alive. It lasts forever and ever and ever. We can trust God all the more because of this truth. This leads us to praise God and follow after Him.
I encourage you to think about your relationship with Jesus. If you’ve never asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins and be the Lord of your life, you may find this chapter to be scary. I encourage you to put your trust in Jesus. Admit to Him that you’re a sinner and ask Him to save you. Commit your life to love and follow Him. When you do that, He’ll give you peace that surpasses all understanding.
Hands
Paul told the church to stand firm in the teachings of Christ. If you’ve accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, the following "I am" statements are truths about you. I encourage you to write them down and thank God for making them possible.
- I am a child of God. (Romans 8:16)
- I am safe from danger. (Psalm 107:2)
- I am forgiven. (Colossians 1:13-14)
- I am saved by grace. (Ephesians 2:8)
- I am finding peace through Jesus. (Romans 5:1)
*"I am" statements taken from "Toby the Goby" by Toby Slough.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for loving me and saving me from my sin. Thank You for making me Your child and for keeping me safe. Thank You for giving me peace through Jesus. I praise You because You are stronger than the evil one. You overcome all things. I love You. In Jesus’s name, Amen.