Longing for Christ's Return - 9/9/21

Longing for Christ's Return 

Hey family, today I want to bring up the topic of Christ's return. Now, because this such a complex, intertwining, and even controversial subject I am not going to try to give you a full and holistic view of everything that it entails. Rather, I want to make you aware, warn you and encourage you of the things to come. 

Today's Prayer

"Dear Heavenly Father, you have put us on this Earth and made us not to make lots of money or achieve great human physical feats or even to obtain foolproof security and safety. Rather, You have created us to have a deep and incomparable relationship with You. One that leaves us longing for You and Your return as a widow or widower grieves and mourns due to their spouses absence and longs for reunification in the end. You count us as Your bride and You, as the groom. And one day we will be reunited, but until that day comes create in us a heart of yearning, that we would do whatever it takes to prepare and hasten the way for Christ's return. In Jesus Christ's beautiful name we pray, Amen."

Scripture

Be Sober-minded and Active

2 Timothy 4:1‭-‬8 

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."

Redefining Slowness

2 Peter 3:8‭-‬13 

"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."

The Conditional Agreement

Revelation 22:17-21 

"The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen."

Quote of the Day

"When Christ is truly in your heart you will not find yourself in a state of fear and anxiousness concerning the end, but rather deep joy and yearning for a friendship to be reunited."

- Alvy Butler, Jr.

Have a blessed day! 🙂

THE POSSIBLE PLACE