DAY 319 Read 2 Thessalonians; Acts 18:18 through 19:22; and 1 Corinthians 1.
Today's reading: Some believers in Thessalonica got the idea that Jesus would return right away; therefore, they reasoned, they should do nothing but wait. Paul had to correct that notion by a second letter from Corinth. He left Corinth, reported in Jerusalem, returned to Antioch, and then started a third journey. Arriving at Ephesus, he ran into several problems, including disturbed reports of conditions on Corinth.
Memory gem: "With thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9).
Thought for today:
Notice with me 2 Thessalonians 2:10, 11: "They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."
It is a terrible thing to believe a lie, isn't it? But those people are really going to believe it.
Nearly the whole world refuses truth, rejects truth, neglects truth, puts off, hesitates, waits, stops, doesn't obey, doesn't do, doesn't follow. Finally the Holy Spirit leaves them, and they believe a lie. This is the great delusion, the strong delusion.
Friend, I want to be delivered from strong delusions, and I believe the only way is to do as Cornelius did. If you will read the whole chapter of Acts 10, you will find that Cornelius was a man who already prayed to God. He was a praying man; he gave money to God; he loved the people of God; he even had services in his own home. He had gone a long way in the service of the Lord, and God had blessed him. He might have said, "Well, now I am a servant of God; the Lord helps me; He accepts my prayers; why should I accept this advanced light? I am receiving the blessing of God already." But when Cornelius heard about a man who might bring him more light, what did he do? Friend, he made a great effort to get that man to his house so that he might receive that advanced truth. Had Cornelius not done that, he would have drifted away into darkness.
Oh, friend, be like Cornelius. Look for the light in order to walk in it, not merely for curiosity. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine" (John 7:17).
Today's reading: Some believers in Thessalonica got the idea that Jesus would return right away; therefore, they reasoned, they should do nothing but wait. Paul had to correct that notion by a second letter from Corinth. He left Corinth, reported in Jerusalem, returned to Antioch, and then started a third journey. Arriving at Ephesus, he ran into several problems, including disturbed reports of conditions on Corinth.
Memory gem: "With thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light" (Psalm 36:9).
Thought for today:
Notice with me 2 Thessalonians 2:10, 11: "They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie."
It is a terrible thing to believe a lie, isn't it? But those people are really going to believe it.
Nearly the whole world refuses truth, rejects truth, neglects truth, puts off, hesitates, waits, stops, doesn't obey, doesn't do, doesn't follow. Finally the Holy Spirit leaves them, and they believe a lie. This is the great delusion, the strong delusion.
Friend, I want to be delivered from strong delusions, and I believe the only way is to do as Cornelius did. If you will read the whole chapter of Acts 10, you will find that Cornelius was a man who already prayed to God. He was a praying man; he gave money to God; he loved the people of God; he even had services in his own home. He had gone a long way in the service of the Lord, and God had blessed him. He might have said, "Well, now I am a servant of God; the Lord helps me; He accepts my prayers; why should I accept this advanced light? I am receiving the blessing of God already." But when Cornelius heard about a man who might bring him more light, what did he do? Friend, he made a great effort to get that man to his house so that he might receive that advanced truth. Had Cornelius not done that, he would have drifted away into darkness.
Oh, friend, be like Cornelius. Look for the light in order to walk in it, not merely for curiosity. "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine" (John 7:17).
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