David Bahn – Reflections

I’ve learned that Martin Luther didn’t actually say, “When you come to a difficult passage in the Bible, praise God and continue reading.” But I’ve said it many times (wrongly attributing it to him!), so unless I hear otherwise I’ll claim this idea. And certainly the first part of Chapter 2 of 2 Thessalonians deserves the “praise God and continue reading” advice – in my humble opinion.

The first verses of this chapter speak of the man of lawlessness who is identified as being the antiChrist. It’s understandable on many levels, but the meaning and application is not immediately obvious to me, nor would it be easy to explain, I’m afraid. I don’t want to disregard those verses. They are certainly worthy of a deep dive, but not for this devotional blog post. So dig if you will. But I pray that you will continue here as well.

The remaining verses in this chapter are clear and delightful! We have been chosen to be saved (from the terrible plight described in the previous verses mind you) through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. This Sunday I will preach on John 8:31-36. Jesus says that if we continue in his word we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. Jesus says of himself, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6). He prays to the Father that we would be sanctified by the truth, and that God’s word is truth.

The truth we believe sets us apart from the world. The world has little to do with Jesus and his ways. From embarrassingly-vulgar so-called “evil beaches” in Egypt, to gaudy Las Vegas shows, to raunchy rave parties, and self-indulgent celebrity galas, the world’s values are anything but those of Christ. We may be tempted by those things – or other things antithetical to God’s ways – but we know they’re wrong, and we resist or repent if we fall prey to their lure.

We’ve been set aside by the grace of God to know and believe the truth. That’s why the closing words of this chapter are so compelling and edifying:

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

Amen!

Paul begins the body of his second letter to the Thessalonians with words of thankfulness to God. He is thankful for their faith, faithfulness, love, and steadfast endurance even in the face of persecution. He is keenly aware of how noteworthy this is and he is grateful to God for God’s work in them as they lean into his promises.

He also speaks words of encouragement regarding their persecution. In fact he reminds them that God will take vengeance on those who persecute his people. He is not turning a blind eye to their afflictions. He sees it and doesn’t like it. It will be ended and God will repay with affliction those who afflict his people. 

He also speaks of the proper glory that Christ is to receive at the end of all days. They will experience the glory of his might when he comes on that day.  He will be glorified in his saints. And those who believe will marvel at his coming. 

We must remember that we are to live in such a manner that brings glory to Jesus. And while faith gives glory to God because it confesses that He is truthful, we also glorify God when we adorn our faith with good works of kindness and love, and with a faithful confession of the Good News of Jesus. Those good works do not save us but they are evidence of Christ’s work to save us, through his death and resurrection – all to the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith from the 1980s TV series The A-Team would famously says, “I love it when a plan comes together.” He was played by actor George Peppard and often delivered the line after his team’s elaborate schemes succeeded against odds.

But I’m not talking about TV programs, or the success of elaborate schemes. I’m talking today about how these words from 1 Thessalonians 5, our recent Live Group meeting, and my current experience at the Harvest Partnership Retreat come together in the words, “respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and…esteem them very highly in love because of their work.”

Diane on Sunday evening asked us to mention people in our prayers who had a formative impact in our spiritual growth, thanking God for them. Today we shared experiences from our lives when the blessings of God came to us from others (focusing on one of the Harvest Partnership’s values, No one left alone). I shared the sense of solidarity I’ve experienced in church staff relationships and church members. Others shared how people came along side them and lifted them up in times of discouragement and struggle.

I relayed the flying pointer incident to the others in our group of four who were discussing this. I learned of extraordinary acts of kindness and support, of the need for brothers and sisters in Christ to help us in our walk with Christ, and of aspirations to discern God’s next chapter for ministry through prayer and conversation with other believers. I mentioned my vicarage supervisor, Rev. Dr. Will Sohns, who was a great spiritual mentor and leader. I thank God for them all.

Paul says, however, we are to do more than thank God for these people who lead (and encourage and serve) us. We are to respect them, honor them, and esteem them highly because of their work. They point us toward Christ. They give us hope. They wait with us for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. They need our prayers.

This is a timely reminder for us these days of challenge, opportunity, blessing, and struggle. Thank God for those who help you along. Thank God for those who point you back to the straight and narrow. Pray for them. And may the God of peace sanctify you together with all who wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus.

“O Tommy! Don’t I have just the most beautiful eyes you’ve ever seen?”

“Yep,” replies Tommy to his sweetheart Mary.

“And don’t I have the most luscious lips you’ve ever kissed?”

“Yep,” he replies.

“And don’t I have just the most perfect figure you’ve ever hugged?”

Yep,” he says again.

“O Tommy! You just have such a way with words!” [Rim shot!]

Silly joke, but an important truth. We may not need to hear that we are loved, but words of appreciation and love are one of the 5 love languages. And we need to know that we are loved.

Paul plays a little trick on the Thessalonians here. You don’t need us or anyone else to talk to you about brotherly love, he says. But in saying that he is reminding them of the importance of brotherly love. But he is also encouraging them through these words because they are practicing brotherly love throughout Macedonia.

Their love was not confined to their local church or community only. That love was expressed in providing shelter and support and shelter for traveling missionaries or persecuted believers. It was shown also as they shared their financial resources with poorer churches (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5). They also sent messages and messengers of faith and encouragement so that their faith active in love was a model for others (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8).

Paul’s praise reflects their active, outward-focused love, extending beyond their local church to the broader Christian fellowship in Macedonia, fulfilling Jesus’ command to love one another (John 13:34–35). And even though they are praised here, Paul urges them to do this more and more.

This should serve as an example for us all. Jesus commands his followers to love one another. This is a command for all believers, and we have here a reminder that this is a lifelong calling. Even as Jesus’ love for us is being constantly renewed by others who reflect his love to us, so we too should seek continually to grow in our love for one another.

When I think of people who refresh my spirit, I think of Don, president of a small congregation in South Texas. He was always so encouraging, forward thinking, and fully devoted to bringing people to Jesus. I think of Lloyd, who served as president of the congregation I was serving long ago. He was always so encouraging, supportive, and gracious to listen. I think of Jim, good friend and dedicated follower of Jesus, generous with his resources and engaging in his friendship. These men – and others – were sons of encouragement to me. I thank God for them, and others not named.

Paul had his sons of encouragement, not the least of whom would be Timothy. Barnabas was the first to encourage him, even introducing Saul to the Apostles after his conversion (Acts 9:27). But Paul writes a letter to “Timothy my true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2). As Paul writes to the Thessalonians here, he expresses his appreciation for Timothy’s visit, and the encouragement he brought. Timothy had brought  the good news of the Thessalonians’ faith and love and reported that they always remembered him and his missionary companions kindly and long to see them. 

The source of true refreshment and encouragement is the grace of God and the Holy Spirit’s work. When we are delighted to learn of others’ faith it is evidence that God is at work in them as well as in us. Who but a follower of Jesus would rejoice to learn of others’ who are following him? Who but one who believes in Jesus would rejoice to learn of others’ faith in him. Who but one who loves Jesus and neighbor would be thankful for a report of others’ love for God and neighbor?

Paul desires to see these people face to face. For it is in those skin to skin, eye to eye, heart to heart encounters that our souls are most fully refreshed.

I’m pretty certain Lloyd has died. So has Jim. But I look forward to being with them and all those who believe and who have served to refresh my spirit. One Day we who believe in Jesus will be eternally refreshed in spirit. We will rejoice together at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Years ago my beloved preaching professor, the now-sainted Gerhard Aho, provided a lenten sermon series resource titled, “Do Not Be Afraid.” As I studied that resource and the texts associated with that term, I realized how often this phrase appears in the Bible. Some examples:

“After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.’”Genesis 15:1 (ESV)

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

“But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.’” Luke 1:13 (ESV)

“And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.’” Luke 1:30 (ESV)

“And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.’” Luke 2:10 (ESV)

“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’” Matthew 14:27 (ESV)

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.’” Revelation 1:17-18 (ESV)

True, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, and the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Jesus warns us not to fear the one who can destroy the body, but to fear him who can destroy the body and soul in hell.

God is gracious. His will is good. His love is steadfast. And his promise is sure, secured by Jesus’ death and validated by Jesus’ resurrection. We rightly fear, love, and trust in him alone.

Sometimes the various readings in this 49 Week Bible Challenge don’t connect with each other in any obvious manner. But today they certainly do. The Epicurean and Stoic philosophers call Paul a “babbler,” that is one who simply talks to hear himself talk. Many words. Little substance.

As I listened today, I see other places in these readings that relate to the idea of babbling.

“But King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw the altar that was at Damascus. And King Ahaz sent to Uriah the priest a model of the altar…” (2 Kings 16:10)

Ahaz imitates pagan worship practices, replacing God’s altar with a copy of a foreign one. His actions are like religious babbling — empty imitations of real worship.

“But to the wicked God says: ‘What right have you to recite my statutes or take my covenant on your lips?’” (Psalm 50:16)

God rebukes those who say the right words but do not live by them. Their religious talk is just noise — babble without obedience.

“For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens.” (Psalm 96:5)

The babble of the nations — their endless praises to false gods — is contrasted with the truth of God’s glorious majesty.

“Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall… Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.” (Daniel 5:5–6)

Belshazzar’s feast is full of boastful talk — the ultimate “babble” of pride. God interrupts the noise with His own unmistakable Word of judgment.

The world around us thinks of God talk as babble – senseless and mindless words about nothing. But we see and hear with the eyes and ears of faith. We look beyond the world’s glitz and listen to the truth of God –  the maker of heaven and earth. We also believe in Jesus Christ who died for the sins of babblers everywhere, and rose from the dead and believe that one day every mouth will be silenced, and the whole world will be held accountable to God (cf Romans 3:19).

In every age, the world is full of noise — religious chatter, political slogans, self-assured words. But God’s Word cuts through the babble with truth, grace, and power. What the world calls foolishness or babbling is, in fact, the wisdom of God revealed in Christ.”

I may not have been gentle—but at the time, I didn’t think it mattered.

A woman had purchased two concrete planters and set them at the entrance to the new building addition at the church I was serving. Each held a beautiful shrub. Then one morning, I arrived to find that the planters were gone—and the shrubs lay on the ground beside the doors. Someone had stolen them!

We replaced those planters, but before doing so I printed this verse on the replacements:

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” – Galatians 6:7

I was angry. My “warning label” was anything but gentle. But no one ever read it—and the new planters remained unmoved.

A friend of mine believes pride is the root of all sin. We’ve talked about this more than once. I’m not entirely convinced he’s right—but I’m not sure he’s wrong either. What I am convinced of is this: humility is absolutely essential to healthy relationships within the body of Christ.

Humility is also essential to faith itself. We must humble ourselves before God to repent of our sins and trust in his grace. It is the defining mark of Jesus’ own character—“who humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8).

So when I need correction, I must be humble enough to receive it. And when I’m called to help restore someone else, I must do so with gentleness and humility – one sinner guiding another back to the cross, where both stand on level ground.

The fruit of the Spirit adorns such confrontations and exhortations beautifully. Humility sparkles like the diamond it is when the light of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, and goodness all shine on it. Gentleness and humility are not only essential to Christian relationships, they reflect the grace of Christ, who restores us gently, forgives freely, and sows mercy in hearts that once were proud.