Daily Devotional for Thursday, May 16

The Lord’s Day and the Unsaved

“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved,” 2 Thessalonians 2:10.

A friend told this story: he and his family were traveling on a narrow, winding, coastal road when they met oncoming traffic in their lane. A landslide had the other lane blocked, and cars on both sides were taking turns using the remaining lane to get around the pile of rocks and mud. On the other side of the debris, local residents manned the road every 100' to warn drivers. One driver did not heed their warnings, even when the third and fourth men were wildly waving their arms for him to slow down. By the time he realized they were warning him, it was too late.

As Paul and his team encouraged and calmed the Thessalonians about the end times, they described the tactics of the man of lawlessness and the wicked ones who will follow him. The enemy will use multiple forms of deceit and fake wonders to fool those who are headed for destruction. Although the warning signs are present, they will refuse to believe them. They will have opportunities to accept the gospel of Christ, but in siding with the man of lawlessness, their doom will be imminent. They will reject truth and, in fact, chase after lies. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12). Much like He did with Pharaoh, God will harden their hearts. They will not accept the love of the truth in order to be saved. Condemnation awaits those who enjoy evil and unrighteousness more than the truth of the gospel.

As the day of the Lord approaches, let us all love truth, share the gospel, actively warn those headed for destruction, and encourage each other to not be fooled by the enemy’s tricks.

THOUGHT
“Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes” (Psalm 119:155).

Kelli Reynolds