Frank's Bible Blog

2 Thessalonians 3-- No Couch Potatoes Allowed

When I hear the phrase "couch potato" I picture a a guy spread out on a couch with the TV remote control in one hand and a bag of chips in the other who won't get up unless he absolutely has to. Unfortunately, some people live their lives like couch potatoes. Paul, however, says that kind of lifestyle has no place in the body of Christ. He exhorted the Thessalonians in chapter 3 to work and provide for themselves rather than mooching off from others. He challenged them to break the soap opera syndrome of busying themselves with the affairs of others and get a life for themselves. He starts the chapter asking for payer for himself and his team that "the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified." No, Paul was never idle even when he was imprisoned. There was always someone to whom he could witness, someone who needed an encouraging letter, someone whom he could touch for Christ. Let's don't "grow weary in doing good" (v13) .  It's time to drop the chips, put down the remote, and run the race of active service for Christ.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

2 Thessalonians 2-- Did We Miss Jesus' Second Coming?

One day, I received this booklet in the mail that said Christ was coming back to the earth on a specific day about six months in the future. The booklet went on to "prove" why that date was accurate and what readers needed to do about it. Well,  it has now been more than 15 years since that date and obviously Christ hadn't come back yet. This underscored for me the fact that no one but God knows exactly when this event will take place. Some people live in fear of the future. But God tells us that believers do not need to fear. In chapter 2, Paul deals with the Thessalonians fear that somehow they missed Christ (v2). Paul goes on to describe some future events--how the "man of sin" (v3) will burst onto the world scene and exalt himself above God (v4). This "lawless one" or as some call him "The Anti-Christ" will attract many followers (v11) and have great power (v9). But in the end, he will be defeated when the "Lord will consume (him) with the breath of His mouth" (v8). Again, we can know some about the future, but don't have to be afraid of it because "our God and Father, who has loved us and (has) given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace" (v16) will comfort our hearts. Let's be faithful to serve the Lord and ask Him to establish us "in every good word and work" (v17).
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

2 Thessalonians 1-- And the Award Goes To...

 Have you ever watched one of those awards shows and when they called out a winner thought "he didn't deserve that! No way was he good enough."? In essence, you felt that the person was not worthy of the recognition and benefits they received. Have you ever stopped to think that maybe God feels that way sometimes about us? He saves us from our sin. He gives us eternal life. He fills us with the Spirit. Yet how many times do we not walk worthy of all that we have received? In 2 Thessalonians 1, Paul twice exclaims how he desires the Thessalonians to be worthy of God's kingdom and calling (vv5,11). What does walking worthy look like? We have a growing faith (v3). Our lives are marked by love (v3). We appropriately handle the challenges of life (v4). Most of all, we glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in and through our lives (v12). If we will live like this, then we will act worthy of the benefits that we receive.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.