Daily Bread for Dec 14, 2 Ths 1-3

Today's readings are 2 Ths 1-3. 

2 Ths, written very soon after the first letter is a letter of encouragement and another warning against false teaching which is already creeping into the church.

Paul has been boasting about their new church and their faithfulness. But they seem to be struggling with two ongoing problems; they think the Lord has already returned and some of them don't want to work, they are "idle" (2 Ths 3:10). His words are stern, but his love for them is great.

Both letters to the church at Thessalonica reveal the danger of straying from the Scriptures and focusing on the wrong things. They were getting consumed with end-times speculation. Some didn't want to work. It's entirely possible that those who didn't want to work thought there was no need to work now that the Lord had returned. As a gentle rebuke and a reminder of the ongoing work needed to proclaim the gospel, Paul encourages them to remember how hard he worked when he was among them. 

The two problems the church in Thessalonica struggled with; a false idea of the end times and idleness, would make it hard to effectively preach the gospel. Paul wants to make sure they understand the reason the church is there, and they are not distracted from the primary mission of the church, the gospel. This is wise counsel for the church today. Christ died to give us new life and proclaim His goods news. It's easy to lose our focus on that as our primary goal. It happened in Thessalonica. It can happen here.