- - When have been the hardest times in your Christian life?
- - What made them so hard?
The Thessalonians had clearly been having a hard time--persecutions and trials in chapter 1, and false teaching in chapter 2. But Paul is still able to be thankful to God for them, because it is God Himself who has been at work in them. Verses 13-14 are a reassuring reminder of what it means to be a Christian
Brilliant truths
Read 2 Thessalonians 2 v 13-14
- - Make a list of all the encouraging truths about Christians in these two verses.
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PRAY
Amazing! If you're trusting the Lord Jesus Christ today, these things are true of you. Spend some time speaking to God our Father, turning each one of these truths into a prayer of praise.
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APPLY
Think back to the hard times in your life again.
- - How would being reminded of these truths have helped you then?
- - Do you, or someone you know, need these reminders again today?
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Keep going
Read verse 15
- - Why will holding to Paul's teachings help the Thessalonians to stand firm?
- - When you think of Paul's teachings (and the other apostle's teachings), recorded for us in the New Testament, what will it mean for you to hold fast to them?
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APPLY
- - In the next week, when will you most need to remember to stand firm?
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Wonderful prayer
Read verses 16-17
- - How is it that God's love and grace give us eternal encouragement and good hope?
Living as a Christian is a wonderful privi- lege, but it is not an easy calling. We’ve seen the Thessalonian church was under huge pressure, facing serious persecution. Paul doesn’t resort to blind optimism or cliches, nor does he counsel despair. He simply points his believing friends to what God has done for them. These truths don’t change with circumstances, nor fluctuate with feelings. When life is tough, it is to these truths we need to point ourselves, and others.
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PRAY
Think of five or six Christian friends who are in particular need of being encouraged and strengthened. Pray for them, by name, now.
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This devotional is taken from Explore—a daily Bible-reading devotional from The Good Book Company which enables you to engage with Scripture and which will encourage, equip and inspire you to live for Christ. Explore features contributions from pastors such as Dr Timothy Keller, Mike McKinley and Tim Chester.
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