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II Thessalonians 2:1-3, Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come.  Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 

In chapter one, Paul addresses the issue of persecution.  In this chapter, he addresses false teaching. The Thessalonian church was highly concerned by teachers stating that Jesus had already come.  To make matters worse, these false teachers were claiming to have Paul's authority in the teaching.  Paul tells them not to be "easily unsettled or alarmed," because none of it is true.  Jesus will not return until certain things have occurred, a certain event must occur (the rebellion) and a certain man must appear (the man of lawlessness, possibly the antichrist). 

The point of this chapter is not to make specific claims about the end of times but rather to prove to the Thessalonians that the day of the Lord, Jesus' second coming, had not yet arrived. It's obvious that Paul wants them to stand firm in the faith and not be so easily deceived.  In verse 5, Paul asks them, Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?  He is imploring them to remember the truth they were taught and live like mature believers, putting deep roots into truth.

I often tell my kids to "remember who and whose they are."  In some ways, I feel this is what Paul is telling the Thessalonians.  Remember what I have taught you.  Remember who you belong to.  Don't allow the distractions and untruths of the world to get you off track or lead you astray. 

Friends, remember who and whose you are.

Let's pray...Lord Jesus, Help us stay grounded in you.  The world is full of false teachers and distractions.  Help us dig our roots deep in your Word.  Help us hold tight to what is true.  On our own, we don't do this very well.  We need you, we need you, we need you!  More of you, less of me, Jesus.  In Your Name, Amen.