“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16).

The work we do is not out of compulsion.  We should never be driven by the need to do anything, but in love we have been called by the One who first loved us.  In the good hope of grace and in the faith He gives, do all that you do.  Be strengthened not by your efforts, but by the goodness of the Lord who gives us the eternal hope in the salvation given us by grace.

Take care that you do not fall into the trap of seeing anything in the way of obligation.  Instead, see things in terms of the grace you have received and pass on that grace to others.  In love we are called to live.  God first loved us so that we may love Him and others.  The motivation does need to eventually become loving obedience to the faith.  Move in that direction and you will move closer to the likeness of Christ.

Lord Jesus, You did what You did out of love.  You love each one of us.  Guide me, Lord, so that I would be led by You and not by myself or others.  Let me not fall into the traps of being legalistic nor uncaring about what is right.  Help me always to live according to the word that You have given knowing that You are calling me into Yourself.  Open my eyes to see more clearly and guide my actions to serve more purely.  Amen.

“So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).

Hold fast and stand firm, says Paul.  How many have wavered and fallen in our day because a new wind of doctrine comes and people are blown away.  Stand fast then in the never-changing true Gospel delivered once for all.  In Christ alone is all hope, for He is the rock of our salvation.  Where you lack faith, trust in the One who gives faith.  He has already overcome so that You might join and be with Him forever.

Lord, I do not understand all of these things, but then, I do not need to, do I?  I sometimes am blown about like a piece of paper in a storm.  Help me to become like You and be an unmovable rock laid upon a foundation of truth.  Guide me, Lord, in all things so that I would now and always hold fast to what I have already been given and build my life upon You.  Help me now and always, Lord.

Lord Jesus, You are the foundation, author and finisher of my faith.  You are the One who makes this faith possible.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I would go the way You know I need to go.  In and through all things, help me see the path You lay before me and not wander from it.  Teach me how to hold fast to that which You have taught me.  Amen.

“It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 2:14).

It is said many places in Scripture and here it is said once again: what is the purpose of our salvation?  To become like Christ.  To gain the glory of Christ is to gain adoption as a child of the Heavenly Father.  It is not something you earn, nor deserve, but it is something you gain walking with the Savior who leads you in the way of becoming like Him.   It was for this that He called you.

Lord, You have called me to walk with You.  Guide me now and always so that I would humbly come with You to be where You are.  You know the obstacles that lie before me.  You know where I falter.  Guide me, O Lord, through these things so that the true Gospel would take hold and I would take on the glory You prepared before the foundation of the world.

Lord Jesus, You have called me to walk with You abiding in me and me in You.  You say this over and over again and yet I go off in other directions and do not do what You would have me do.  Strengthen me that I would now and always hold fast to the goodness of the Gospel I have already received and keep the faith You have given me.   Amen.

“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

The Lord knows those who are His.  Before the foundation of the world, the Lord knew you.  It is well to leave it at that.  He knows that you are His and He has given you all the grace you need so that you may walk in salvation and see that His will is done.  You are sanctified because Christ has sanctified you.  You have been given faith in order that you might see the will of the Father accomplished in your life.

Lord, You have said that unless we become as children we cannot do this.  Too often I make these things more complex than they need to be.  Help me Lord to trust You humbly and simply  above all things.  Guide me in the way of salvation that You have prepared before me.  You have sanctified me in Your grace and Your grace is more than sufficient.  Teach me to trust these things and walk accordingly.

Lord Jesus, through Your death and resurrection, You have paved the way for all who believe.  Thank You for this gift of faith which You have given to all who believe.  Lead me Lord to see the truth, follow the truth and be a child of the Truth.  Guide me in all things, knowing that You alone are the author and finisher of my faith.  In You Lord is all hope and an eternal future.  Amen.

“For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

How many do you know that believe wicked things are right and good?  If it feels good, do it.  This is the state of our world.  The Lord allows them to remain deluded in their rebellion.  Yes, He loves them, and we are to love them too; but this does not mean that we join in the delusion and say that these things are okay.  They are not.  Live in the knowledge of what the Lord has told you is right and good.

Lord, it really does begin with the Ten Commandments. Help me relearn them and what they mean.  Help me to apply them to my daily life.  Guide me to know that in You alone is all hope.  Help me to know that You have already told me how things are supposed to be.  Help me to do things the way You said they should be done.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth and salvation.

Lord Jesus, You are the example to follow.  Just You and me.  By that, I mean that I should look to You alone (and those through whom You speak) and not to any other for guidance of how to live.  Lead me, Lord Jesus, today and every day, and help me see those places where I have been deluded.  Take away from me all false things so that I may become pure as You are pure.  Help me to understand more fully Your goodness and mercy that I may live this new life You have given me.  Amen.

“[A]nd with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10).

They did not receive what was offered.  God has come to rescue, but there are those who will not be rescued.  The Lord does not desire that any would perish, but there are many who will.  Of course, God gets blamed for the decisions that others make.  This is all a part of the deception of wickedness.  People think they are clever when they are merely deluded.  Come into the light and presence of the One who saves.

Lord, it is not a pretty sight, but if I even take a cursory look, I see the deception of wickedness all around me; all of the temptations which never satisfy.  Lead me away from these things and into Your presence.  Lead me to know that what You have spoken is right and true, that Your statutes are good.  Help me understand these things and practice them now and forevermore.

Lord Jesus, You who see clearly, walked this world and saw things as they are.  Yet You continued to the cross for the sake of all of those who love You and come through Your atonement to the Father.  Lead me always, Lord, and keep me from straying.  Guide me according to Your purposes to live into the life of faith that You have given me.  Guide me to become like You and to flee from all the wicked deceptions in this world.  Amen.

“Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-9)

The Lord will allow this in its own time.  Notice that the Lord slays him with the breath of His mouth.  The Word of the Lord is greater than any rebellion.  But between now and then, the wicked one will continue his rebellion.  Do not be led astray, as so many are, but come into the truth of Christ which has been revealed for you.  Come into His grace and mercy and know truth.

Come, Lord Jesus, and invite me to be Your guest.  Lead me in the way of righteousness and guide me according to the eternal principles of liberty and life.  In You alone, O Lord, our hope is found.  This world continues its rebellion until that time when You shall call it “the end.”  Help me to not worry about what time I am in, but to spend my time productively learning how to be faithful.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life and have it abundantly.  Regardless of the circumstances in which I find myself, help me to live into this life which You have given me through grace.  Guide me in the upward call of Your mercy in order that I may not be caught up in the insanity of this world’s rebellion.  Help me to truly abide in You and You in me that I may become like You.  Amen.

“For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way” (2 Thessalonians 2:7)

There has not been a time since Christ first appeared that the wicked one has not sought destruction of the church and her people.  You know the signs in this one thing: hatred.  The Lord restrains the wicked one, but the day will come when he is out of his cage for a time.  Meanwhile, pay no attention to him, but rather to the One who has redeemed you and given you hope and a future.

Lord, teach me to focus upon the higher things.  Guide me in Your mercy so that I would look to you and not pay attention to the antics of the wicked one.  He will do what he does; so teach me not to care except for your admonition to be on the alert.  As You guide me in my daily life, help me to put into effect these principles You are teaching me so that I may indeed hold fast to the faith You have given me.

Lord Jesus, You are the One who has fought the good fight and laid hold of salvation for us.  All authority is Yours, as it always has been, and You bring about the flow of history.  Help me to always look to You knowing that You are the author and finisher of this and every age.  Lead me in the way You know I need to go and keep me from worrying about the ridiculous attempts of the wicked one to thwart Your plans.  Amen.

“Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things?  And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed” (2 Thessalonians 2:5-6)

At that time: until then, do what the Lord gives you to do.  Sometimes we spend too much time on things that we ought not spend time upon.  It is not that these things are not important, they are not yet important.  Do not be distracted from the task at hand but put your hand firmly to the task of becoming like Christ, for this is the goal of us all.  Have we not been invited to become children of the Father?

Lord, I hear these things and how easy it is to become excited and want to pursue what is not mine to pursue.  Lead me Lord in the right direction in order that I would be guided by You and not by the winds of this world.  Help me understand that I am to look to You for all things. Help me to take my cues from You and do what You give me to do knowing that You alone know the timing of all things.

Lord Jesus, teach me to walk with You and follow as You lead.  Yes, I am to watch out for the lawless ones and avoid their smooth tongues; but help me today and each day You give that I may humbly follow where You lead.  Guide me according to Your goodness to see through the lies of this age and live into the new life You have given me by grace that I would hold to the path of salvation which You have set before me.  Amen.

“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

The signs are there, but then, they have been there from the beginning.  Do not chase after the signs but follow the One who calls you.  In Him is life.  Life is in Him alone.  He has called you through the water and word of your baptism and in Him you have all the assurance anyone could ever want.  Come through Christ and be given the power to become a child of the Heavenly Father.  Walk in the power of Christ.

It is not your power, but His.  He is the author and finisher of your faith.  In Him alone is all hope.  Apart from Him, there is no hope.  Come then into the salvation He has prepared and be guided by His goodness and mercy.  The son of  destruction will be cast into hell soon enough.  The end of days will come upon us all.  Meanwhile, there is kingdom work to be done.  Do the work prepared for you by the Master.

Lord, teach me to learn and grow.  You are my guide and apart from You, I can do nothing.  Lead me, O Lord, and grant me a heart that willingly follows.  Through all that comes my way, guide me to hold fast to You knowing that these things must come to pass first.  There is lawlessness round about me, but help me to be one who lives in You and therefore within the law.  Through all things, be my strength.  Amen.