Reading #90

Scripture:  1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Observation: In chapter 4 verse 13, it says 13 “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.”  In spite of all the biblical data regarding Christ’s return, many of us are so familiar with end-times teaching that we have tuned out.  This tendency reminds me of how we treat our alarm clocks.  We have grown so accustomed to hearing them sound off that we can press snooze as we sleep right through the alarm warning us to rise from our slumber.  In light of our human tendency to forget and ignore God’s Word, Paul sounds a red alert: “Don’t get caught sleeping!”

Application: We must wake up, open our eyes and wise up to the soon coming of Jesus.  Paul says that this day will come “like a thief in the night.”  The trouble with thieves is they do not tell us when they are coming.   It is not their habit to send a warning postcard.  The same unexpectedness will characterize the day of our Lord’s return.
Paul also says that this day will come upon unbelievers like labour pains upon a pregnant woman.  Labour pains are uncomfortable and painful.  They are bearable at times yes BUT……
A woman may feel one, and then not feel another for fifteen minutes or more.  But as the moment of birth approaches, the pains become more acute-and they get closer together.  There comes a point where the woman has to make a mad dash for the maternity wing of the local hospital.  In the same way, during the day of the Lord, times will be frightfully bad-but to add fuel to the raging fire-they will escalate out of hand rapidly.  Yet, in the midst of this, the world will be declaring peace and security.
May I ask a few questions?  What do we currently know about the end-times?  Are we living out our knowledge?  Or are we foolishly living as if we are guaranteed tomorrow and Christ couldn’t possibly return today?  I encourage us all to shake ourselves awake from our sleep walking and wise up to end-times doctrine.  Don’t get caught sleeping!

Prayer: Gracious Father, we hear the sounds of Your soon return.  Give us ears to hear and to be alert and ready.   Help us speak words of hope and affirmation into the people we meet daily.  Wake us up to opportunities all around us.  Give us the desire to go into this week with a renewed passion for Christ’s return.  We can single-handedly make an eternal difference in someone’s life.  We don’t want to be guilty of sleep walking.   Help us to live today as if Jesus could return because He just might.  In the Name of the soon coming King, Jesus Christ.  AMEN!

Judy

Day 90

Scripture Reading: Revelation 20-22

SCRIPTURE - Revelation 22:20

²⁰He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

OBSERVATION - The Bible ends with Jesus’ promise that he is coming soon to which John responds, “Come, Lord Jesus”  This longing is shared by all true Christians. (1) This prayer is a confession that until he comes our redemption remains incomplete, evil and sin are not yet overthrown, and this world is not yet renewed. (2) We have every reason to believe that the day is fast approaching when he who is called “The Word of God (19:13) and “the bright Morning Star” (v.16) will come down from heaven to take his faithful away from the earth to his Father’s house, after which he will triumphantly return in glory to reign forever as “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (19:16).  This is our unfailing hope and joyful expectation.

APPLICATION - The time is getting closer, it is getting nearer to the return of our saviour so we must be ready to say as John did, “Come Lord Jesus.”  As aware we are of the attributes of God and how we are to live our lives we often disregard the imminent return of our saviour.  Let us ever be aware of this reality, this is truly the reason why we live and follow our Lord Jesus Christ.  Come Lord Jesus, we’re ready!

PRAYER - Come Lord Jesus I am ready. May my life live like this statement is true each day as I walk with you, may I share the love that you have so graciously and freely given to me.  In Jesus name, Amen.

So I hope you have enjoyed walking with us through the New Testament in 90 Days.  It has truly been an inspiring journey once again as each day brought new insights and wisdom that could only be gleaned from the Holy Spirit.  May your daily devotions continue and may you continue to grow in Wisdom and you seek the one who freely gives wisdom.

Dave