The Noontimes

Wednesday, March 24, 2010 – 2 Thessalonians – Lawlessness

The Christian community of Thessalonica was founded by Paul in about the year 50 C.E.  This second letter addresses the dilemma of sorting out and dealing with false preachers who were appearing, drawing the Christians away from the true Gospel story.  Paul reminds the Thessalonians – and us – that there is a constant battle waging between Christ and The Lawless One; and that the best way to survive t he battle is to remain in Christ.  He has told them in his first letter to, Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Test everything.  Hold onto what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 & 21) Today he continues: Do not be shaken out f your minds or alarmed . . . Let no one deceive you in any way.

Paul tells us that “the mystery of lawlessness is already at work . . . and the lawless one will be revealed”.  We so often wonder how and why evil blooms and takes hold in human hearts.  And we are powerless except that “we ought to give thanks to God” for God is always present – even where there is darkness and deceit.

Stand firm and hold fast to the true traditions that you were taught. 

Paul reminds us that our only salvation lies in Christ – that of and by ourselves we can do nothing to fend off this lawlessness.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word. 

So with courage and hope and grace and strength in Christ Jesus, we will be saved from the mysterious ways of the Lawless One.  And we will be rewarded for this perseverance in the truth.  We will be saved by our willingness to follow Christ in all things all days.

When doubt strikes, when fear creeps in, when there is no light to pierce the darkness, when lawlessness has taken hold and taken over . . . Do not be shaken out of your minds or alarmed . . . Let no one deceive you in any way . . . Stand firm and hold fast to the true traditions that you were taught . . . And may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word. 

Amen.

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