Verse of the Day 7/14

 

 

2 Thessalonians 2:15    So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.   English Standard Version (ESV)

 

Today's passage reminds us of Tuesday's post and Paul's letter to the church in Philippi where he stated that he prayed for them every time he  thought of them and his prayer for them  was that their love  would abound.  His desire was that their lives would overflow  with the love  of God, that in His love they would thrive.

 

Here he refers to the Thessalonian  church as the "firstfruits to be saved", that they had been sanctified set apart by God  do His will.  The firstfruits are to yield the  fruit of the Spirit (Galatians  5:22), love, joy,  peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and  self control.  This  fruit is not from ourselves, it is  the result of what Max Lucado  refers to as the  "three-in-one God's presence, power and  grace in our lives and His being faithful  to  His gospel promise to comfort and strengthen our  hearts for  every good work so that  all might see our lives and  glorify our Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16)

 

Today's verse encourages and  challenges  us to stand firm in  the  faith that  we have, to  the  "traditions" that  we have  learned despite all  of the temptations to turn to other things.  When I read those  words "stand firm", I'm reminded of the spiritual armor in Ephesians  6:10-18.  The picture in my mind  is one of  fending off the enemy,  defending our faith as we hold on to what  we believe  in.  The Message in verses 15 to 17 below tells us to take  this  firm stand "feet on the ground and head high, with  a tight  grip on what you are taught". 

 

The world around us, the  secular world would like  to cut us down, put  us  down so that we would hang our heads in despair.  Our challenge it to keep that grip, hold on  and stay the  course.  Read the passage from 2 Thessalonians below and then this benediction from  Moses,  often used at the end  of services to this day, encourage you to stand firm.

 

²⁴ 'May the Lord bless you
    and protect you.
²⁵ May the Lord smile on you
    and be gracious to you.
²⁶ May the Lord show you his favor
    and give you his peace.'   Numbers 6:24-26

 

 

Blessings,

 

Mike

 

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17The Message (MSG)

^13-14 Meanwhile, we've got our hands full continually thanking God for you, our good friends—so loved by God! God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God's original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth. This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ.

^15-17 So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.

 

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