Chapter 1
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 – It’s easy in our families to get caught up with how the kids are doing in school, how well work is going, and if people did their chores to determine whether you’re thankful to God for that day. Paul here though is setting his eyes on something a little different. His thankfulness is for the growth spiritually he is seeing in people and the love they have for each other increasing. While those other things we talked about before are beautiful things to be thankful for, make sure that if God is growing the faith of those around you and the people close to you are growing in love for each other, be abundantly thankful for that. If you are growing in your faith and growing in your love for people be thankful for that too. It’s showing you that God is working in your life and the people’s lives that are close to you as well. That’s something amazing to be thankful for. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac
Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. 2 Thessalonians 1:4 – Your enduring can inspire others to endure. One reason Paul wrote this second letter to the church of the Thessalonians was to address the growing persecution they were facing. From all around this small Christian church was feeling pressure and pain, yet they continued in the faith and increased their love for one another. Within our verse we see Paul encouraged by what he hears taking place within the church there and also shares that good news with other churches to encourage them. We too can be an encouragement to others when we navigate a struggle and remain faithful to God. How we react to the struggle, what we turn to while in it, and how we relate to God in the midst of the pain can be a true help to others navigating their own struggles. We can help them see we don’t have to let go our our faith when the struggle comes but lean further into the faith we have for support. So would you say if someone were to see how you handled your last struggle that they would be inspired to lean deeper into their own faith? That through you and through your struggle they’d see God really can help them. Let’s lean in rather than away from God when our own struggles come so those watching us can see God can be their refuge in times of trouble. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1551
…in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might…2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 – Paul is writing his second letter to the church of the Thessalonians, and while still holding some encouragements like his first letter, Paul uses this second letter to correct some false ways of belief that were arising in the church. Here the church is experiencing sufferings, and some had caused the church to believe that the sufferings were the result that the day of the Lord already took place and they missed it. Paul here reminds the church that the suffering they are seeing is not because the Lord has returned and is bringing that judgement, but because in our world today there are those who don’t know God and don’t want anything to do with His gospel message. Their sinfulness, when not dealt with at the cross of Jesus, brings the judgement of God’s wrath on themselves, and sadly even faithful followers of Jesus feel the ripples of sin and its judgement within their lives. Seeing here from scripture how eternal sin’s punishment is and the nature of the punishment is forever separation from God’s presence, also seeing how even we will feel the effects of other’s sin in our life, let us be all the more active in sharing the Gospel. Yes, as with this church, there will be people in our life that don’t want to know anything about God and don’t want anything to do with His gospel. Let though the presence of rejecters not hold us back from sharing the message to those who may still embrace it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2777
Chapter 2
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 2 Thessalonians 2:8 – Know this lawless one isn’t just anyone, this is the Antichrist we’re reading about here. What I want you to look at is how Jesus handles this “premier tool” of our enemy. Not only does Jesus take care of him, but it’s says with the breath of His mouth will he do this. Sometimes we can be so deceived by our enemy that he is the one with all the power. Yet if we look at scripture we see clearly our God is far greater in power than our enemy. As God’s follower, never fear that God can’t protect you or save you from our enemy’s schemes. If just the spoken word our our God was able to bring our world into existence, I believe He is big enough to handle whatever our enemy can bring. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac
The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 – Now I’ll be honest with you and say I don’t have everything figured out from this chapter, not even within the few verses we chose to talk about. But after a little studying I believe I understand somewhat of what these difficult verses are saying. Imagine you have a dog on a leash and it is pulling crazy hard after something. You keep trying to get it to walk with you yet it never turns but just pulls harder away. So you disconnect the leash so the dog can chase after what it wants. This is what I see happening here. People are seeing all the false signs and wonders of Satan and they are pulling hard after him. After many opportunities to grab their attention they still refuse to listen to the truth, so God disconnects the leash so they can run. It’s not God’s desire but somehow it’s in God’s plans. As I said before, I don’t fully understand it, but what I’ve seen throughout scripture is this desire of God for His people to be with Him, yet He allows us to choose what we run after. Know today you have a choice as to what you chase after. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1552
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 – Paul now addresses in this second letter one of the main reasons why he is even writing the church a letter. He has heard that the church in Thessalonica had been shaken in their faith due to believing that the Lord had already returned and the end times were upon them. Whether through a word someone spoke, a letter they thought was from Paul, or even because an evil spirit said it to them, they somehow had been told the Day of the Lord had come and they were panicking. Paul tells them to be wiser than this and to not let their lives be shaken by such announcements. For they knew the word and what God teaches about the end times and its order. For us today, if we want to find ourselves not being quickly shaken or alarmed at the messages we hear within life, let us grow in our knowledge and familiarity with what God says in His word. Whether it’s things to come in the distant future or things to come tomorrow, God’s word gives clarity and peace around such things. When it comes to the end times, God lays out His plan so we can have an idea of what’s going to happen. When it comes to tomorrow and our future life, God’s word reveals how sovereign and powerful He is to provide and care well for us. So be not quickly shaken or alarmed by the words of the world that is in panic about things to come. We have a God who is over all things and in all things. Lean into His word for knowledge, and lean into Him for peace, for both are available to you today. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2778
Chapter 3
For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 2 Thessalonians 3:11 – Busybodies here means someone doing none of their own work, yet overdoing in the work of others. What we see Paul writing is that there were individuals in the church not doing their part. Yet it wasn’t just they weren’t fulfilling their part in the working of the church, they chose to interrupt the work of others who were trying to do their own part. For us I believe we need to see this passage as a call to do our part in the work that God is leading us to. Not only so our role is completed, but us slacking on carrying out our part interrupts the work of those around us. Maybe it’s us using that “free time” that should have been poured out into our part to cause distractions during the work of those around us. Or maybe it’s causing an interruption because those who are fulfilling their part have to cover your part as well. Either way, we are called to not be busybodies, not to interrupt the work of those around us trying to fulfill their role in God’s plan. The best way to keep ourselves from taking on the title of busybody is by being busy with the work that God has called YOU to do. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac
If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 – So what is this saying? To break away from anyone whoever sins? No, but it is saying for us to think about how we handle our relationships with them. The passage says if we are aware of a brother who chooses to sin and is refusing to listen to the direction given to them to change, take note of that brother. Then we need to change how we interact and do life with them. Not in a hatful way, but to show them their choice of sin has repercussions and one of those is our relationship with them will change. We still love them, still are there for them, still will be there to help them if they choose to follow Christ again, but while they are choosing sin our relationship with them can’t be what it used to be. All this is to help them be more aware their sin comes at a cost. Not to show them we are any better than them but to lovingly help them see a choice to pursue something other than Jesus will have an effect on the relationships in their story. For if we have a brother who chooses sin over Jesus and our life with them doesn’t change at all, what is that saying to them about our love for them if we truly believe sin kills and destroys? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1553
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 – In his finishing up of his letter to the Thessalonian church, Paul asks the Lord to give this church peace at all times and in every way they need it. For we know from previous chapters and letters they were facing persecution and trials as a church. We also learn from this letter that they had individuals seeking to stir up confusion about the end times and brothers in the faith who were idle, not doing the work they ought to and just feeding off the blessing of others. This church was navigating a lot, but Paul knew that in every way they needed it and in every moment they needed it, God could bring them peace. As we navigate the stressors of our life, know our God is still able to bring peace at all times in every way. He can bring peace into the situation at work. He can bring peace in the struggle happening right now in your family. He can bring peace to your wearied mind. In every way we need peace and in every moment we need His peace, He Himself can bring to us His peace. If then you are in a time where God’s peace is needed, know I’m praying for you today, and know that His peace is available. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2779
Daily DEVO 