Today’s Bible Reading:
1 Kings 3; 2 Chronicles 1; Psalm 78; 2 Thessalonians 2
Topic: Deception
SCRIPTURE: 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12
7 For the
secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it
back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one
will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his
mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance
with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs
and wonders, 10 and in
every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because
they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so
that they will believe the lie 12
and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have
delighted in wickedness.
(2 Thess 2:7-12 NIV)
OBSERVATION:
In context the Apostle Paul is teaching and warning the
Thessalonians about the end times when the antichrist (the lawless one) appears before the second coming of Christ.
Whether the personage of the antichrist is present in the world today or not,
the spirit of antichrist certainly is, as it was when Paul penned this epistle
(see v. 7). It is a spirit of delusion. It promotes an attitude contrary to
God’s law. It is a prevailing attitude that scorns godly principles and treats
deviant behavior as normal and acceptable. It is a degrading of humanity
masquerading as enlightenment; and people by the masses, as though hypnotized,
follow it happily to their own destruction.
APPLICATION:
As a Christian it is disheartening to find oneself maligned
and ridiculed for living by faith in Christ and adhering to biblical precepts
of understanding right and wrong in a loving, non-judgmental way. No matter how
much I demonstrate love, acceptance and forgiveness, if I stand up in support
of godly tenants, society will brand me as hateful, intolerant and ignorant. My
stance motivated by love will be met with contempt and even malicious reprisal.
The temptation is to throw our hands up, pray for them to inherit the damnation
they deserve and give up trying to love them. Yet, as bad as things in earth
are (and sure to get worse), the spirit of antichrist that is so prevalent is
still counteracted by God’s Holy Spirit who is still present in the world (v.
7). The Holy Spirit is still present to give us strength, ability, wisdom and
love beyond ourselves—ability to endure and yet see many people brought into
His Light.
PRAYER:
Father, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to dwell with
me and in me that I may endure in love until Christ the Savior returns.
With all my love and worship. Amen. –AP
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