7For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. (2 Thess 2)
Thoughts:What is this "secret power of lawlessness?" I believe that this is our natural tendency. We tend toward lawlessness on our own. The Holy Spirit works with our conscience to hold us back. The Spirit restrains us by giving us a Law and then giving us the grace and conviction of conscience to keep it. But when we stop believing the Law that He gave us, the Spirit cannot convict or use our conscience very easily. Belief is a gift of the Spirit; The Law is a gift of the Spirit; and the Spirit combines them both to help us avoid lawlessness. When anarchy rules, it is easy for people to look to a single leader for guidance and to pull them through to meaning and hope. But a leader devoid of the Creator will not be able to instigate real meaning. Hitler arose out of a depressed and meaningless Germany. Stalin arose out of the chaos of red Russia. But the ultimate lawgiver is teh One who gives conviction and meaning. Rebellion may lead away from God- but it also leads us toward lawlessness.
Prayer: Help me believe and have hope and obedience.
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