March 31 - The End WILL come

The End WILL come
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

One of the core teachings of the Bible is the fact that Jesus will return to earth. “Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.” Unlike His Palm Sunday entrance (which we will celebrate this coming Sunday), He will not enter on a donkey, the animal of peace. Rather He will come on His white war horse to crush evil and establish His eternal reign (Revelation 19:11-16). 

 In 1st and 2nd Thessalonians Paul writes about it. In this passage they were apparently unsettled by false teaching that the Day had already come (v.2). Paul assures them that 3 things must first happen: a great apostasy within the Church (v.3), the appearance of a man of lawlessness empowered by Satan with power and signs to deceive many (v.4). After the Holy Spirit, who currently restrains evil is taken away, this lawless one will be revealed (v.6-7) and then be defeated by Christ (v.8). Keep these truths to help you look at the times. Meanwhile, live in light of His Return. 

 C.S. Lewis wrote, “The doctrine of the Second Coming teaches us that we do not and cannot know when the world drama will end. The curtain may be rung down at any moment… We are not the playwright, we are not the producer, we are not even the audience. We are on the stage. We do not know the play, whether we are in Act I or Act V. The Author knows.” 

So Paul blesses them and I ask the same two things for us: “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” Be encouraged, friend. And always look to Christ to strengthen you to “never tire of doing what is right." (2 Thess. 3:13)

Jesus purchased us with His blood

14 ApriL                  

Read Revelation 5 and reflect on the passage.

In revelation, God has given his church a “coloring” Book full of incredible imagery. Chapters 4 and 5 are a vision, (“I looked,” v. 4:1), which God gave the author John to show what is always going on in the center of the universe.

4:1-6 Prominent is a throne—symbol of God’s sovereignty, majesty, and kingly rule.

4:6-11 The worshipers are in two concentric circles focused on the throne.

They constantly proclaim the praise of our holy God.

5:1-7 There is a scroll of the book of history and what is to come. John weeps that nobody is fit to open it. An elder says the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David can open it (5:5). But astonishingly, what appears is a Lamb with its throat cut! He alone is declared worthy to open the scroll because He was slain (5:9).

5:8-14 The worship following is beyond description.

When John the Baptist first saw Jesus he said “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus came foremost to die. And by His cross He has suffered, conquered evil, and redeemed us for God. Let us always worship!

Questions

1. Going to a worship service, do you pray and ask God to help you bring the devotion of your whole mind, body, and spirit to glorifying Him?

2. After the service, do you ever thank God? Do you evaluate the time not by what you got out of it but how much He received?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, on this Good Friday, make me ever mindful of Your sacrifice. Help me reflect and worship You as the Lamb slain for me.

—Buff Delcamp

God provides Light and Life

December 3

Scripture Reading

Read John 1:1-5 and reflect on the passage.

These are some of the most stirring words in the Bible. It is a great opening to a fantastic Gospel. It doesn’t go to Jesus’ birth stories, but takes us back to eternity! It is an opening to another world, like the wardrobe in C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia.

We see that our Christ is God—the Word of God and the Source and Agent of all that is created. He brings light and life amidst the darkness of this world. So the Gospel helps us know God as glorious and utterly separate but also nearby us like a father. His presence makes His otherworldliness comforting, and His otherworldliness makes His presence amazing. So we worship with both awe and intimacy.

I remember the morning of the funeral of my 11-year-old daughter. I awoke and simply couldn’t move. I felt a crushing weight upon me. Then I heard the words “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” The weight dissipated immediately and I was able to get up and walk with God through that terrible morning. The God of all came to me and brought life and light and the darkness could not overcome it.

Questions

1. When was there a time you got a glimpse of the magnificence of God in nature?

2. What is an experience in your life when this majestic God was present to you in a real way?

Prayer

God, You are high and exalted above all, yet You stoop to dwell with us! Thank You. Help us live gratefully and joyfully. Amen.

—Buff Delcamp