God’s power at work through you

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “God’s power in you and for you”

Our Bible verse for today: “Don’t you remember that when I was still with you I used to tell you about this? And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, and then the lawless one will be revealed.” 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “God’s power at work through you”

In 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8 the Apostle Paul was writing about the spirit of the antichrist at work in the world. He was not referring to the actual antichrist, who will appear in the world at the beginning of the seven-year tribulation as described in the book of Revelation. Instead, Paul was writing about the spirit of the antichrist, the spirit of evil, that is at work in the world perpetrating evil deeds and doing Satan’s work for him.

Paul said in that passage that the mystery of this lawlessness is already at work in the world, but something is currently restraining that evil. In other words, as bad as the evil sometimes seems, it could and would be much worse if that restraining influence was not there. And someday, according to Paul in this passage, that restraining influence will be removed. Then, literally, all hell will break out on earth.

The restraining influence on evil in the world today is the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through the lives of the followers of Jesus Christ. When the rapture occurs, the believers alive at that time will be removed from the earth and therefore the power of the Holy Spirit to restrain that evil will be removed with them. But until then, the restraint that opposes and pushes back against the evil in the world continues by means of the Holy Spirit working through us.

This is important. It explains the crucial role that you play in the world today. Not necessarily by casting out demons or performing miracles and leading large evangelistic crusades, but more commonly, by simply living a righteous and holy life right there in your little corner of the world. God has you right where He wants you so you can model Biblical principles in your daily life, bless others in the name of Jesus, oppose evil where you see it, and help to further His kingdom-building work right there where you are.

This is the role the followers of Christ play in the world today. It’s God’s power at work in the world through you. As bad as things seem in the world today, they would be much worse without the presence of the followers of Jesus using the power of Jesus to confront and restrain evil.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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