The Daily Fountain Devotional Thursday, November 10, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Thursday, November 10, 2022
Thursday, November 10, 2022
TOPIC: DECEPTION ABOUT THE DAY
TEXT: 2ThessaIonians 2:1 -12
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Thursday, November 10, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
Living in the throes of sustained persecution, believers might reasonably ask, "Where is God? When will Jesus help us?" The fear mentioned in 2Thessalonians 2:1-2 suggests that some members of a First-Century - Christian community answered these questions by saying that Jesus had already come (and perhaps somehow did not help them, because of neglect or an intent to punish them) or that "the Day of the Lord" was immediately upon them. The response that 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 gives - a confusing discourse about the "rebellion," "mystery of lawlessness," and "powerful delusion" that must precede Christ's return - may not have soothed readers' anxieties but only redirected them. The passage suggests that conditions will worsen before they improve.
Do you hear the truth of God but continue to harden your heart? Is it possible that the more you hear the gospel, the more your heart hardens? This is the "strong delusion" spoken of here. We are either prepared for the Lamb or for the Beast. The gospel either melts our hearts, grabs us and permeates our living or it doesn't; there is no middle ground! Many of us grew up in church and have heard this over and over again. But one new thing is that we could be more fit for hell now as we grow in lawlessness in a world that is full of lawlessness. What are you being prepared for? Let us not be ignorant about what is to come! Let us heed the warnings of what is to come and not be given over to pleasure and delight and lawlessness.
Prayer: Almighty God, help me that I may not be deceived by pleasures and lawlessness of this age, Amen.