Day 286 – 2 Thessalonians: Introduction
“May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5 NLT
Effective communication is difficult; often, the message sent is not the message received, whether it is in the home, marketplace, neighbourhood, workplace, or church. Even when clearly stated or written, words can be misinterpreted and misunderstood, especially when filtered through the sieve of prejudices and preconceptions.
Paul faced this problem with the Thessalonians. He had written the first epistle to help them grow in the faith, comforting and encouraging them by affirming the reality of Christ’s return. Just a few months later, however, word came from Thessalonica that some had misunderstood Paul’s teaching about the Second Coming. His announcement that Christ could come at any moment had caused some to stop working and just wait, rationalizing their idleness by pointing to Paul’s teaching. Adding fuel to this fire was the continued persecution of the church, and many felt that indeed this must be the “day of the Lord”.
Responding quickly, Paul sent a second letter to this young and growing church, giving further instructions concerning the Second Coming and the Day of the Lord. The second letter, therefore, continues the subject of the preceding letter and is a call to continued courage and consistent conduct.
Prayer: Father, thank You for Paul’s love and concern for the churches, and that even something like a misunderstanding is important enough for him to clarify. Father, please send people our way when we believe a misunderstanding or false teaching about Your Word to help us see the truth. Amen.
