Tag: thief
God’s patience will run out
Scripture reading for October 21st: Jeremiah 50-51, 2nd Peter 3
2nd Peter 3: 8-10 “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.”
God is loving and compassionate, slow to anger and patient in working for salvation of each person and nation. God gives time to repent and sends His messengers and Word. But Peter also warned the Church not to take God’s love and patience as an indication that He was not just and would not bring recompense for those doing evil. Peter warned that the Day of the Lord would come like a thief with sudden destruction. God would punish evil and unrepentant people and would ultimately cleanse the heavens and the earth by the fire of His wrath against sin. This is cause for self-examination and renewed dedication to Christ Jesus and flight from the fallen world system that is under God’s judgment. It is also time to be about God’s business of saving the lost while His patience waits.
2nd 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.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your great patience and compassion for lost mankind. Thank You for sending Jesus Christ at just the right time to redeem us by His blood. Thank You for sending Your Church with a Gospel of grace and warnings of the coming Day of the Lord and Your just anger and wrath against sin. Use me today to spread the Gospel and proclaim Your call to escape the coming wrath.
Jeremiah 51:5-6 “For Israel and Judah have not been forsaken by their God, the Lord of Hosts, but the land of the Chaldeans is full of guilt against the Holy One of Israel. “Flee from the midst of Babylon; let every one save his life! Be not cut off in her punishment, for this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance, the repayment He is rendering her.”
Stay awake!
Scripture reading for February 3rd: Mark 13
Key Scriptures: Mark 13: 32-37 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake–for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!”“
Sleep is necessary for our bodies but Jesus was not talking about physical sleep. He was calling His disciples and followers throughout the ages to recognize the spiritual warfare of the end times and the fact that only the Father knows when the last day and hour before the final judgment is. God has given His servants work to do in His absence. Each believer is assigned gifts and talents and responsibilities. Those who are watchmen must stay awake spiritually because the Church will not be caught unaware. No matter when Jesus returns, His Bride will be ready. Jesus reminded the disciples and all: “Stay awake!”
Song of Songs 5:2 “I slept, but my heart was awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking. “Open to me, . . .”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord, I may sleep naturally, but my heart is awakened to You knocking! I don’t know the day or the hour, but I know You are coming for Your Bride! May I be watchful and help others to be ready.
Revelation 16:15 Jesus: “(Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)
Behold! The Lord is coming!
Scripture reading for December 22nd: Job 21-23, Psalm 101, Revelation 16
Key Scriptures: Revelation 16:12-17 “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, an its water dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for the battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”
John watched as the seven angels with the seven bowls of God’s wrath poured them out upon the earth. The sixth angel poured his bowl on the Euphrates river and its water dried up and made a roadway for the kings of the east. Then John observed three unclean spirits, like frogs, spewing out from the mouths of the dragon and false prophet. These unclean spirits would draw the kings of the whole world to gather for the final battle against God in the valley of Armageddon. Jesus then broke into John’s vision with a Word of Wisdom: “Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” Jesus is totally in control!
Psalm 101:4 “A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You that You have revealed the final judgments falling upon the earth, the dragon, and false prophet and those under their control. I will hold fast to Your Word; let the Holy Spirit clothe me with Your righteousness today that I may be ready for Your amazing return!
Job 23:10-11 “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and have not turned aside.”
Blessed, dressed and awake!
Scripture reading for December 20th: Revelation 16, Psalm 135-36, Proverbs 7
Key Scriptures: Revelation 16:13-15 “And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. “Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”
As the angels of God’s wrath poured out the sixth of seven bowls on the earth, John saw in the spirit unclean demonic spirits released through the mouth of the false prophet. These evil spirits would be sent to the kings of the earth to deceive them into assembling on the great day of the Lord for the battle of Armageddon. Those who believe in Jesus are warned to stay awake and be clothed in righteous garments when that day arrives. It will come upon the world as a thief, but believers will be ready!
Faith Confession: I trust God to keep me safe from deception and will do my part to stay in faith in Christ Jesus and wearing the robe of His righteousness, alert for His soon return. Lord help me to warn those who are not dressed and awake!
Proverbs 7:24-25 “And now, O sons, listen to Me, and be attentive to the words of My mouth. Let not your heart turn aside to her (the adulteress) ways; do not stray into her paths, . . .”
The Blessed Stay Awake!
Scripture reading for December 21st: Revelation 16
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Revelation 16:13-16 “Then I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. “Behold, I come like a thief!” Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.””
While deception by the demons of Satan and the Antichrist and False Prophet bring the world’s kings together for the final battle where God’s wrath is poured out and finished, God’s people are warned by Christ Himself that He will come like a thief to the world of the wicked. God’s people must hold onto their clothes in readiness for this climactic coming! These clothes are the white robes of Christ’s righteousness given by grace to those who believe!
Observations for over-comers: Each day is another day closer to Christ’s glorious appearing! Hold onto your clothes! “The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take of his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.” (Zechariah 2:4)
God’s not slow!
Scripture reading for November 18th: 2nd Peter 3
Have you ever wondered if God was watching the events of this world? Do you sometimes feel that God is slow to respond to the cries of His people during times of testing or persecution? These questions plagued the church in Peter’s day as well as ours. Peter closed this last letter with advice that relates to believers of all generations and cultures!
“First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word, the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” (2nd Peter 3:3-7)
Peter went on to teach that “the Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2nd Peter 3:9) God is merciful and patient. He would rather see men and women saved than to see them destroyed. He judged the world the first time with water. He is now waiting until the final judgment by fire. Today is the day to buy your “fire insurance”! Call on Jesus Christ to save you and become His disciple!
Blameless at His Coming!
Scripture reading for October 12th: 1st Thessalonians 5:3-28
A key truth of the Christian faith is the second coming of Christ. Christ will come in the air to meet believers who are living for him. They will be preceded by those who have died in faith, being instantly resurrected in a glorified body. Both groups, the living and those who have died, will be caught up to heaven. (1st Thessalonians 4:13-18) No one knows the day or hour this will happen. This means that Christians should live each day in holy anticipation!
“But you, bothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like the others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.” (1st Thessalonians 5:4-6) People of the night are usually asleep and not alert to Christ’s coming. People of the night are often doing deeds of darkness, such as getting drunk and carousing. Christians belong to the day and are people of light. They understand the times and the urgency to live self-controlled and moral lives. Through faith in Christ, they are obedient to God’s word and ready for Christ’s coming.
“Be joyful always; pray without ceasing; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire, do not treat prophesies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid all kind of evil.” (1st Thessalonians 5:16-22) Paul’s short summary of how to live pleasing God and ready would be good for all to memorize. Our attitude of joy and thanksgiving in continuous prayer kindles the Spirit’s fire to obey God. We are open to God’s leading, but test all things and avoid all evil.
“May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” God was at work in the Thessalonians and is working in us today. He has called us to be holy and given us the Holy Spirit. Jesus is coming for His spotless Bride! Lord help me to be blameless!