BREATH OF LIFE
Opening Prayer
As I pray today, gracious God, thank you for the assurance I have that you hear me; you will receive my praises and answer my needs as I bring them before you.
Read 2 THESSALONIANS 2:1–12
The Man of Lawlessness
2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.
5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 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 how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness 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.
Footnotes
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3 Some manuscripts sin
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How do you rebel against God and ignore or reject his teachings? How have you fallen short already today? Make a note (you’ll need that for a time of confession later).There are few passages in Paul’s letters more difficult than this one, not least because his argument refers to teachings we don’t have (vv. 5, 6). While we can’t understand in full, we can discern some important truths and warnings.
First, sin is rebellion against God—lawlessness (v. 3)—that tries to take his place (v. 4). Second, the full expression of sin’s rebellion is being held back (v. 6). Third, Satan works through powerful deception and lies (v. 9). Fourth, God’s judgment is to give those who reject his truth exactly what they want (vv. 10–12). And fifth, although these patterns of sin are repeated throughout history, one day someone will rise as the ultimate expression of this rebellion. But how will God deal with him? Read verse 8.
There is not even a skirmish, let alone a great battle. Take a breath and breathe out—that is all Jesus needs to do to ‘overthrow’ this enemy!
Apply
Pick up the list of things you need to confess that you noted earlier. For each one, take a deep breath (breathing in God’s grace and power), and then breathe out slowly (breathing out God’s praise and victory over sin).
Closing prayer
I praise you, Lord God, for your great power that overcomes any rebellion, that wipes out every sin. As I confess mine, thank you for your forgiveness.
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