Good Hope conquers Fear.

2Thessalonians 2:1  As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, 2  not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3  Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. 4  He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God. 5  Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? 6  And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes. 7  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed. 8  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming. 9  The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, 10  and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11  For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, 12  so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned. 13  But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14  For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15  So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter. 16  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17  comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

The Jesus people in Thessalonica were afraid. The Roman Empire had become an unfriendly place for Jesus followers, and they were suffering persecution. The Emperor “opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.”  They knew that Jesus had promised to return after his death, and were hoping that this would be soon so that he could rescue them. They are encouraged to “stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us”.  This passage recognises that fear is more debilitating than anything else that we face. And so the concluding words are ones of eternal comfort and good hope.

Jesus-followers are not impervious to fear: we learn to live with our fears because Jesus lives life alongside of us offering ‘good hope’ (2 Thess 2:16).

Ordinary 33 / Pentecost +26

55 See...Judge...Act

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 335.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.