YouVersion Reformation Reading Plan, day 276

II Thessalonians 2 §

…who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

II Thessalonians 2:4

This is what Paul terms, “the rebellion” (verse 3). Man proclaiming himself to be God. Adam’s sin included trying to become like God; this final sin is proclaiming ourselves to be God. Honestly, it seems like this is occurring constantly. Even in my own life, I proclaim myself God every time I act in my own will. Every time I justify a bad decision (or a bad attitude). God is God, and we are not. As individuals and as a species, we would do better to remember that.

Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false….

II Thessalonians 2:11

Whoa. I thought Romans 1:24 was scary, but that is horrifying. God’s word tells us again and again (Psalm 8:12) that if we persist in disobedience and idolatry, He gives us over to what we have desired. LORD, I pray you never give me up.

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

II Thessalonians 2:15

How much emphasis can we place on spoken word and tradition as opposed to scripture?

II Thessalonians 3 §

…

Job 39 §

God says to Job (and to me) that our great knowledge and power are nothing. Whenever we know something, we should know that it is the way it is because God commanded it to be so.

Job 40 §

Whatever behemoth is (hippo?), it’s interesting that “he” is listed as the “first of the works of God” (verse 19).

Job 41 §

…

Job 42 §

Again it says that the LORD brought the evil on Job (verse 11).