Open the Bible UK Daily

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 Paul moves from teaching to praying. Since all this is true of you—God loves you, chose you, saved you, sanctified you, called you through the gospel, brought you to faith, and destined you to share in Christ’s glory—come before Him with confidence and receive what you need from Him. Pray in the light of this truth. Notice the personal involvement of Jesus: “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself… comfort your hearts” (2:16-17). When you pray for comfort and strength remember who you’re asking. Jesus is the one who gives us “eternal comfort and good hope” (2:16). How does He do that? Through the cross and His resurrection. Do you need comfort? Lift up your eyes and look at the cross: The Son of God hung there. The voices of hell mocked Him. People laughed at Him. He is the man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. He knows what it is to suffer. He knows what it is to face these dark powers. Think what comfort you could find in Him. Do you need strength? Lift up your eyes and look at the empty tomb. Jesus Christ has endured. He has conquered. He is risen. Think what strength you could find in Him. May this Christ, who knows what it is to suffer, comfort your heart. May this Christ, who triumphed over the grave, strengthen you in every good work and word. Do you need comfort today? Do you need strength? Written by Colin Smith Read by Sue McLeish

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 If the message of Christianity was—Satan is raging, the world is getting worse, godless people are deceived, the antichrist is coming, and in the end it is up to us to stand firm—then we would all feel completely hopeless. Maybe that is how you feel today. When you look at what you are up against, you feel completely helpless. You are surrounded by darkness and the battle is intense. You feel overwhelmed. If that’s how you feel today, you need to drink in the truth of who you are in Christ. Nourish your soul here. Find strength for the battle in this reality. Don’t pass by this quickly or you will miss the oasis, the refreshment that God has for you. Take this in, Christian… You are loved by the Lord. God chose you from the beginning. You are saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through believing the truth. God has called you through the gospel, and your future is to share the everlasting glory of Christ. These are life-giving truths. Don’t skim over them. This is who you are in Christ. You may not feel like it today, but this is what God says about you, and about every Christian believer. This is your identity in Christ, so meditate on these things. When you’ve preached this truth to yourself over and over, and these things begin to sink in, then you’re ready to hear God’s word of encouragement to you today, “So, then, brother or sister, in light of these things, stand firm!” Have you been skimming over these truths? Do you need to take some time right now to drink in the truth of who you are in Christ? Written by Colin Smith Read by Sue McLeish

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first-fruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 THESSALONIANS 2:13-14 The whole magnificent range of God’s redeeming purpose is here in these two verses. How does it all fit together? The Bible’s overarching word salvation is like a treasure chest in which we find the priceless jewels of justification, sanctification, reconciliation, adoption, forgiveness, and glorification. How are we saved? Salvation comes through the gospel message (2:14). We are also saved by God’s call, when a person hears the good news of Jesus, crucified and risen for us. What lies behind the gospel? First, God’s love. Why did Jesus come into the world and die on the cross? There’s only one explanation: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16). Second, God’s choice. God set His love on you from the beginning. What is the fruit that comes from proclaiming the gospel? The Spirit of God sanctifies. When you heard God’s Word, you were set apart by God. Sinners respond in faith. This miracle has happened in your life if you believe in Jesus Christ today. How is it that you stand here today as someone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ? Your faith in Christ is the visible fruit of an amazing work of God that began in eternity, was secured at the cross, and is being put into effect by the Holy Spirit at this very moment. What here seems clearest to you today? What is less clear? Written by Colin Smith Read by Sue McLeish

So that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:14 What is the ultimate outcome of God’s redeeming purpose? What is the great aim and the ultimate goal of the Christian life? It is the glory of Jesus Christ. What does that mean? 1. You will see Christ’s glory. This will happen on the day Jesus Christ is revealed. None of us has ever seen Christ. We believe in Him, but we’re walking by faith. It will not always be so. One day we will see Him, and on that day faith will be turned to sight, and all will see Jesus Christ face-to-face. 2. You will share Christ’s glory. Christ’s glory will not just be something that we see, something that remains external to us; it will be in us. Paul says that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18, NIV). When we see Him, we will be like Him (1 John 3:2). 3. You will be glorified in Christ forever. You will have a body like Christ’s—no pain, no sickness, no weariness—all gone. Your body will be suited to eternal life. You will have a soul like Christ’s. You will love what Christ loves, as Christ loves. You will be free from every inclination to sin and you will share in Christ’s joy. If you are a believer in Christ, this is your marvellous future. Whatever you face right now, however difficult it is, lift up your mind and see what is yours in Jesus Christ. This will help you stay the course when you’re tired of the battle. What would keep you from making this the aim of your life? Written by Colin Smith Read by Sue McLeish

What gospel is the apostle Paul talking about? There’s a marvellous summary of it in his first letter: “To wait for [God’s] Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thes. 1:10). Let’s consider this summary phrase by phrase.1. The gospel is about a person.The message is about a person who is unlike any other person who has ever lived—Jesus is God’s Son from heaven. Paul has come to know Him and he wants to introduce Him to others. The gospel is about Jesus and what He is able to do for you.2. The gospel is about His resurrection.The gospel declares that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead. Because Christ has conquered death, He is uniquely positioned to bring men and women into life. The promise of Jesus is that your death will not be the end of your life, but entrance into a new life that has been opened up through His resurrection.3. The gospel is about His ability to deliver us. Every person is faced with “the wrath to come.” This involves God judging every life, punishing every sin, righting every wrong, eradicating all evil from His universe, and destroying all sinners in the lake of fire. No pain, loss, injury, or grief can compare to this experience and Paul says, “Jesus rescues us from it.” That’s the gospel.God calls people through this same gospel today. And as you believe the gospel message, you too will find that you are loved, chosen, saved, and sanctified by God.Have you heard this gospel message before?What is your response to it?You Are CalledWritten by: Colin SmithRead by: Sue McLeish

You Are Sanctified Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

You Are SavedRead by Sue McLeishwww.openthebible.org.uk

You Were ChosenRead by Sue McLeishwww.openthebible.org.uk

You Are LovedRead by Sue McLeishwww.openthebible.org.uk

Do You Need a Miracle of Grace?Read by Sue McLeishwww.openthebible.org.uk

What You Can Do When the World Is Getting DarkerRead by Sue McLeishwww.openthebible.org.uk

This Is Always Accomplished by a Miracle of Grace Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

What Jesus Says about Our Human Nature Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

The Word of God Never Leaves You the Same Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

Seven Things Sin Does Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

The Splendour of the Son Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

The World’s Last Battle Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

The Power of the Antichrist Is Already at Work Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

The Man of Lawlessness Will Oppose All Religion Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

A Man Who Is Completely under the Control of Satan Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

The Kind of Battle We Are In Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

How to Pray in the Light of Your Eternal Future Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

If Your Sins Are Many Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

This Will Sustain You When You Are in Trouble Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

Why No One Will Be Saying, “Is This It?” in Heaven Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

Christian, You Have a Glorious Future Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

Why Jesus Is Coming Back Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

The Power of the Gospel Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

How to Obey the Gospel Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

Why Jesus Didn’t Do More in His Lifetime Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

How to Begin Praying for Your Enemies Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

When Someone Hurts You Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

How Jesus Endured Suffering and Affliction Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

What the Hardest Truths Can Do in You Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

Rethinking the Justice of God Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

Why You Can Have Confidence in God’s Justice Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

The Parable of the Pit Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

How Jesus Endured Suffering Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

How to Encourage Others without Flattering Them Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

Finding Stamina for Ministry Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

Pray Strategically Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

Where Patience Comes From Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

What God Is Doing When You’re Under Pressure Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

What You Need When You’re Struggling Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

Staying the Course When You’re Tired of the Battle Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

What Jesus Is Doing in Heaven Right Now Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

How to Find Joy in God’s Imperfect People Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

Will You Be Among the Many? Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

What It Means for Our Sins to Be Laid on Jesus Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk

Where Our Righteousness Comes From Read by Sue McLeish www.openthebible.org.uk