Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. Don’t be fooled by what they say. —2 Thessalonians 2:2-3a
Let’s call her Jessie. Gym class is her best part of her week now that she’s in junior high.
This bright-eyed sport knows after years and years of instruction that she must line up with her class on the first yellow line. If she doesn’t, she will have less time to play.
Today’s teacher is a new, well-intended substitute. The rules for their gym time drone on and on. And on. There are a lot of “don’ts” in these instructions.
Jessie is not good with time but knows the more this teacher talks, the less she gets to play.
Wait, she corrects herself. I don’t play. I participate. I participate with my classmates in gym class.
When we look at what Paul shares to the church in Thessalonica, we see there are a lot of “don’ts” in these instructions, too.
Paul’s overall emphasis is not on stopping or correcting, however. With a spirit like Jessie’s, he wants us to do.
Rather than stand on some yellow line or sit out for a few minutes because we cannot stay on the yellow line, Paul calls us to love, inspire, encourage, foster, embrace, shoulder, touch, teach, nourish and care in the name of Jesus.
The spark of Jessie in each of us loves this because Paul, like Jesus, calls us to participate.
PRAYER: Show us where to participate, Lord.