Tag: day of Christ
“Come.”
Scripture reading for December 30th: Revelation 22:17-21, 2 Peter 3:10-13
Revelation 22:17-19: 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 prophesy 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.”
The final words of this prophecy received by John and the final warning of Peter before his martyrdom are our closing thoughts on this past year. John records the final invitation and promise of Jesus Christ: “Surely I am coming soon.” In response to this short and plain announcement, the Spirit, indwelling every believer echoes the call to “Come.” Those filled with the Spirit, having made themselves ready for the Day of Christ, here are called the “Bride.” The Bride is calling out in agreement with Jesus Christ and the Spirit, “Come.” Peter’s final warning before he is crucified upside down, is for believers to remember the promises of Jesus Christ about His return and the judgment of the earth and those refusing grace. God will destroy the earth and heavens by fire in that final judgment. But God’s people, the “Bride”, will be actively awaiting the new heavens and new earth and the righteousness of King Jesus! Amen! Come!
2 Peter 3:11-13 “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.”
Revelation 22:20-21 “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.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit! Thank You for Your unchanging Truth given to us through Your eternal Word and Son Who was and is the Word made flesh. Help me to patiently wait, do the works You have prepared for me, and be ready for Your promised return. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and use me to reach others with the Good News of Christ’s coming! “Come.”
The future is guaranteed!
Scripture reading for November 28th: 2nd Peter 3, Psalm 87, Proverbs 20
2nd Peter 3:`10-13 “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 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.”
Peter’s closing letter to the Church of Jesus Christ was a bold statement of what the future ‘Day of the Lord’ would be like. No one of the world would know its coming–like a ‘thief’ was the description. But believers can be assured of what will happen because God has decreed it in His Word. The heavens and earth will be dissolved and renovated by fire at that appointed Day. Because of the certainty of this day coming and it’s destruction, believers should be motivated to live holy and godly lives while they wait for the promised ‘new heavens and new earth’, the home of eternal Righteousness in Jesus’ reign as King of Kings on Mt. Zion, the eternal City of God in the New Jerusalem. Only through God’s Word can man know with certainty the future!
Psalm 87:1-3 “On the holy mount stands the city He founded; the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God.” (Selah)
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the settled certainty that comes through trusting Your Word concerning future events. Your amazing plans are eternal and settled in heaven by Your Word and glorious power. Thank You for directing our steps into the Way of Christ and faith. We as believers are looking forward to Your rule as King of Kings in the City of God and enjoying the new heavens and new earth for ever!
Proverbs 20:24 “A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?”
Blameless on the Day of Christ!
Scripture reading for September 2nd: Philippians 1, Psalm 25, Proverbs 21
Key Scriptures: Philippians 1:9-11 “And this is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
Paul was always praying for those who had come to Christ Jesus through the Gospel message. The Gospel message was a doorway that opened up to new birth and growth in Christ-likeness. Paul prayed that their love would grow incrementally along with their understanding of God’s Word and holy character. The goal was seeing all the believers declared blameless on the day of Christ’s judgment. He wanted all believers to have rewards that brought praise to God.
Faith Confession: Lord, thank You for praying for me and writing down this prayer for Your Church. Help me to become a man of prayer for other believers with the goal that all would stand blameless through Jesus Christ at His judgment seat.
Psalm 25:4 “Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.”
Psalm 25:21 “May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You.”
The Church’s One Foundation!
Scripture reading for July 09: 1st Corinthians 3
“Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly–mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. Your are still worldly. for since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?” (1st Corinthians 3:1-3)
Paul called out this church for their lack of spiritual maturity, accusing them of being infants. It is alright to be an infant when you are first born, but the normal way of life is for babies to grow up! Babies need milk because they cannot yet eat and digest solid food. Paul suggested that these Corinthians were in the same infant state.
The reason Paul said this was because of their quarreling and jealousy towards each other. These believers were following different spiritual leaders and boasting about those who taught them. They were in competition with each other. Paul explained that spiritual leaders were only servants of the Lord, picked by Him for their task. This did not make them people to be followed and exalted! “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building!” (1st Corinthians 3:9)
Taking the building analogy, Paul explained that by God’s grace, he laid a spiritual foundation for the Corinthians by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He acted as an expert builder, but now others were building on his foundation. “But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1st Corinthians 3:10-11) The only foundation for a strong spiritual building is Jesus Christ! When Jesus Christ returns, the Day of His coming will test the quality of each man’s work! Is your spiritual house resting on Christ alone?