Today’s devotion comes from 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10.
“This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.” 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10.
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The righteous will be given relief, and the wicked will be given retribution: “it is only just“. “This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment”.
“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24.
Do we understand and know the LORD?
It is easy to be infatuated with our own desired cozy image of the LORD and reject the LORD revealed by Scripture, but it is wrong, and we do not understand and know the LORD thereby.
Scripture plainly shows God to be a God of justice Who delights in exercising justice on earth throughout the Old Testament and even the new Testament, including today’s Scripture which gives us a “plain indication”.
Luke 12:5
“But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”
“But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”
Proverbs 9:10
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
If we do not sufficiently know the LORD, how can we believe in Him?
It is not sufficient to worship our false image of the LORD.
“But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god.” They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend.” Isaiah 44:17-18.
“… the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power”. Verses 7, 8, and 9.
But, through God’s grace, we know the LORD and believe in Him, the LORD of “lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness” as revealed by Scripture.
We eagerly read and hear the preaching and teaching of all of Scripture to better know and believe the LORD revealed by Scripture. We seek to “be considered worthy of the kingdom of God”.
The LORD will come “to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.” Verse 10.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 