I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Thessalonians 1-3

I keep writing about prayer because I am convicted that I need to improve the prayer in my life.  At the beginning of this letter, and of most of his letters, Paul writes about praying for those to whom he is writing..  Writing that gave me insight into improving my prayers.  I do not believe it has ever occurred to me before to pray for those of you reading this (although a few of you are otherwise among those for whom I pray).  So, starting today, I will strive to pray for those who read my writing.  Then at the end of this letter, Paul asks those reading it to pray for him.  So, I will ask those of you reading this to do the same for me.  Please pray that God will make me a better servant to Him.

However, central to this letter is Paul’s writing about Christ’s return.  Paul writes that that day has not yet happened and that everyone will know when it comes to pass.  Before the Day of Christ’s return will come a time of lawlessness, presided over by a man of lawlessness.  Paul’s writing here has elements which suggest that the “man of lawlessness” is a specific individual and elements which suggest that the “man of lawlessness” is a figurative being.   In either case, there will be a period of lawless rebellion against God.  This passage suggests that the period will culminate in the rise of an evil “Messiah” figure who will deceive many into a false, and evil, religion.  Speaking of prayer, I pray that God pour His Holy Spirit out on the people of this world, drawing them to Him, and delaying the arrival of the day of lawlessness.