Due to a busy Christmas schedule, I am reposting a previous post from 1 Thessaolonians. May His Word continue to bless, encourage, and challenge you in your daily walk with Him.
“And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Macedonia and Achaia, for wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We don’t need to tell them about it, for they keep talking about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you turned away from idols to serve the living and true God. And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment." (1 Thessalonians 1:8-10, NLT)
There are two great realities that provide help for us as we live for Christ today. On one side there is the deep, intense, beautiful gratitude that we feel for what God has done in our lives. He has “rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.” Judgment is real and certain. While hell and judgment are not spoken of much today they are nonetheless certainties. Because God is just, He must punish sin and because He is holy, He must separate the sinful person from Himself. That separation begins here and will continue throughout eternity. What could be more tormenting than to be separated from God and everything that is godly?
On the other side of the scale opposite gratitude there is faith. Faith looks forward with anticipating eyes to Christ’s coming from heaven. Jesus told us not to be troubled because He would come for us (John 14:1). His coming for us might be when we die or we may see him coming in the clouds to gather us all to be with Him (1 Thess 4:13-18). Whatever means He uses, we can rest assured that He has not abandoned us and He will indeed come to take us to heaven. So, faith says, “Things may be hard right now but this is temporary! My Lord will see me through and He will come for me!”
Consider today what the Lord has rescued you from and what He is coming to do. Live in these realities. Let them overshadow your circumstances and discover the impact it will make as you walk with Him today. Live a life today filled with gratitude and faith. Meditate on what He has done, what He is doing today, and what He tells you He will do in the future. Live today with peace, confidence, and anticipation.
2 Peter 3:18
Dennis
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Posted on
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
by Dennis Newkirk