Good morning. Today’s Bible verses are 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2: "Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled..."
Our world is engulfed in chaos: the Nation of Israel faces threats on all sides, unrest grips many European countries, and even our own society struggles with political confusion and philosophies different from those rooted in Judeo-Christian Western culture. Yet, in the midst of these realities, there is a place of refuge. Paul’s message to the Thessalonians resonates with us today: reject the false notion that the Great Tribulation is upon the world and that we, as believers, must go through it.
Dear brothers and sisters, I encourage you to read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-11. Like the believers in Thessalonica, we are called to live by faith in God’s promises rather than by fear and anxiety. God’s plan for Israel, including the Great Tribulation, which is the final seven years of Daniel’s prophecy for Israel (Daniel 9:24-27), will unfold as God directs, and the rapture, the removal of the Body of Christ as taught by Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-58), will occur before that.
So then, let us focus on our calling. We are not meant to build the Kingdom but to share the gospel of grace. The chaos in society is not the Great Tribulation, and believers will not face God's judgment in those times. Instead, our priority must be to live by faith, exhibit the peace we have in Christ through faith in the gospel of grace, and offer the message of forgiveness and justification, as taught by Paul.
Reflection: As you navigate a world in turmoil, choose to actively embrace God's peace and promises today. Commit to sharing the gospel and living out your faith in practical ways this week.
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), 2 Th 2:1–2.