Tag: Jesus’ return

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Acts Devotionals

Until he returns

Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven?

This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven. (Acts 1:11)

Some time ago, I wrote a short article in my blog on this passage. You can read it here.

As I was reading this passage again today, the angel’s words struck me again in much the same way as it did back then. Here was my prayer for the day.

Jesus, in this broken world, that’s my hope: That one day you will return. That you will make all things new.

But until that time, you’ve given me a job to do.

So fill me with your Spirit. And help me to be faithful in the things you’ve called me to do until you return.

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James Devotionals

Because Jesus is coming

James

In a lot of ways, James is circling back to his point in chapter 1, encouraging people who were facing trials in their lives.

And the main point he gives in this chapter is that Jesus is coming back.

When he does, he will judge those who have unfairly treated us, for all who have done injustice. (James 5:1-6)

And so James tells us: justice is coming. Wait for it. Wait for the Lord as Job and the prophets did. And as we do, we’ll find out that God is indeed good. (7-11)

So until he comes back, keep your eyes on him, in the good times and the bad. (13)

Also, watch how you yourself live, especially in your relationships, knowing that you too will be judged. (9, 12)

Finally, remember you don’t have to stand alone in your struggles. So let your brothers and sisters in Christ support you, and just as importantly, support them, especially when they seem to be falling away from Christ (14-20).

What struggles are you going through now? Let us sing with King David:

I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart be courageous.

Wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:13-14)

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Mark Devotionals

Watching and waiting for our Lord

Mark

In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that he is near—at the door… Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming. (Mark 13:29,33)

None of us know when Jesus is coming. But we know that his return will come in difficult times.

The problem with difficult times is that we often end up focusing on our own problems. We become very internally focused, and we forget to watch for his return.

But watching for his return does not merely mean looking to the sky waiting for him to come.

It means doing the things he has called you to do. (Luke 12:42-43)

And one of the main things he has called us to do each day is to touch the people he’s put in our lives with his love.

At the end of each day, can we look back and say that we have done that? Or will we look back and see a day totally focused on ourselves?

May we never waste a day as we watch and wait for our Lord’s return.

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Matthew Devotionals

When love grows cold

Matthew

In talking about the last days, Jesus says something pretty chilling.

Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:12)

The scary thing is, he says this of those who profess to be God’s people.

When it says lawlessness will multiply, I wonder exactly what that means.

Does it mean that lawlessness will multiply in the world to such an extent that some among God’s people will start to despair. They lose faith that God is good and their cynicism towards him and others turns their love cold?

Or does it mean that they themselves will be swept into lawlessness, rejecting God’s word  and living for themselves, thus turning their love for God and others cold?

I don’t know. But either way, we need to guard our hearts.

Guard your hearts against sin. Don’t let yourself slip into sin by making excuses for it.

When you harden your heart by making excuses for your sin, your love for God and others will inevitably grow cold.

And when you see the evil around you and everything looks beyond hope, don’t lose your faith in God.

Keep believing he is good. Know in your heart that the day is coming when Jesus will return and make all things right.

Jesus promises us,

…the one who endures to the end will be saved. (13)

So remember your hope.

This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (14)

The evil we see in this world will not last forever.

So by God’s grace, let us endure with hearts overflowing with his love, and proclaiming his gospel to this dying world.

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Luke Devotionals

Our hope

Luke

In this passage, Jesus predicts a dark time in Jerusalem’s history when the city would fall to the Romans, many Jews would be killed, and many Christians would be persecuted. Jesus’ words would be fulfilled in 70 A.D.

But he also tells us of more terrible times to come. If you think this world is bad now, it will get much worse before Jesus comes.

We see it in Jesus’ words here. We also see it in more detail in Matthew 24:4-14. And because of all the trouble that will come, it would be easy for us to lose hope.

That’s why Jesus told us,

Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day (that is, Judgment day) will come on you unexpectedly like a trap.

For it will come on all who live on all who live on the face of the whole earth.

But be alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that  are going to take place and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:34-36)

When things get hard, it’s easy to just give up and despair. But we do have hope. What is that hope?

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words never pass away. (33)

In short, Jesus never lies, and all he promises will come to pass. What is his promise?

Then they (all people) will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near. (28)

No matter how bad this world gets, never forget: Jesus wins! He is our hope.  So as Paul wrote ,

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

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Mark Devotionals

Be on your guard

Mark

It’s hard to miss the repetition Jesus uses here when he talks about the last days.

Three times, he says, “Be on your guard!”

All three times, it’s different things we are to be on our guard about.

The first time, Jesus warns us to be on our guard because persecution will come (Mark 13:9-13).

The time will come when we will be hated even by those closest to us because we love Jesus.

There will be times we will be punished by those in power for proclaiming Jesus.

You already see this in countries like China. But you also see it in the States as well: people punished for standing up for what scripture clearly teaches in terms of right and wrong.

Jesus then warns a second time: “Be on your guard (23)”.

Why? Because false messiahs, false prophets, and false teachers will come to deceive, even performing miraculous signs.

Do you test the teachings you hear from your pastor, from pastors on the internet, and famous Christian authors?

Hopefully, those you listen to are spiritually solid, but if you are not on our guard, you may be deceived.

Jesus warns a final time: “Be on your guard (33).”

Why? Because Jesus will come back some day and he will hold you accountable for how you are living. When Jesus comes back, will he be able to say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant?”

How about you? Are you on your guard?

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1 Corinthians Devotionals

To become like him

1 Corinthians

There are lots of good stuff in this chapter. I particularly like verses 9-10.

But this being the Christmas season, it is verses 48-49 that strike me.

In those verses Paul compares the first man Adam with the second man Jesus.

And in verse 49, he wrote,

And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust (Adam), we will also bear the image of the man of heaven Jesus). (1 Corinthians 15:49)

As I read that, the thought came to me: “Jesus became one of us, that we might become like him.”

Even now, in our struggles with sin, Jesus is working in our hearts, purging out our sin, and making us more like him.

And when he returns to this earth, we will become complete.

I quote this verse a lot, but I think it’s a good one to remember and memorize.

We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is.

And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3)

So as we think of Christmas and Jesus becoming like a man, let us strive each day, by his grace and power, to become more like him.

And though we may fail sometimes, let us hold tightly to the hope that we will be like him someday.

As as Paul says,

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

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John John 14

What’s waiting for us

John

As I said in my last blog, the disciples were both stunned and troubled by what Jesus had just told them.

First, he told them he was leaving and they could not follow, and then he told them that they would all abandon him.

If that weren’t enough, he told them that Peter, who seemed the strongest of them all, was going to deny Jesus three times.

Jesus must have read their hearts, for he immediately tried to comfort them saying,

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (John 14:1)

In other words, “Don’t worry. I know these things sound awful. I know you can’t imagine these things happening. But God is still in control. Trust him. Trust me.”

He then gave them a glimpse of the future and why he had to go. He said,

In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.

I am going there to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:2-3)

Here we see three promises Jesus gives us.

First, he’s preparing a place for us. If we have put our trust in him as our Savior, he is preparing a place for us in heaven.

I don’t know if it’s a “mansion” as translated in the King James Version, or if it’s a deluxe condo. But whatever Jesus is preparing for us, I know it’s going to be glorious. Jesus would make nothing less.

I love the sentiment of Keith Green who wrote in one of his songs,

In six days You created everything,
But You’ve been working on Heaven [for] two thousand years.

Jesus then promises that he will come back again.

The disciples were freaking out that he was leaving them. But Jesus reassured them, it would not be for forever. That he would come back. First, by sending his Spirit to dwell in them, but also, someday, by coming back literally in physical form.

And when he does, Jesus promises that he will take us to be where he is.

The apostle Paul writes about it this way,

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

And so we will be with the Lord forever. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

Think about this, though. Jesus made these promises to a bunch of people who he knew would be unfaithful to him and would abandon him within hours.

How could he promise them these things? Because he wasn’t finished with them yet. And there was no way that he would ever give up on them.

And neither will Jesus ever give up on you. Whatever struggles you may go through, however badly you may fail him, he is preparing a place for you.

So don’t get discouraged. Keep getting up, and pressing on.

As an old song once put it,

So why should I worry?
Why should I fret?
‘Cause I’ve got a Mansion Builder
Who ain’t through with me yet.

– 2nd Chapter of Acts

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Luke Luke 17

A sudden but certain judgment

Luke

After addressing the Pharisees on God’s kingdom, Jesus turns to his disciples with a word of warning.

He told them that there would be times of trouble when they would long for his coming, and because of that, it would be easy to go after any rumor that may arise.

But Jesus makes several things clear about his second coming.

First, there will be no mistaking it. When he comes, everyone will know. Jesus said,

For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. (Luke 17:24)

Second, it will come with a suddenness that no one expects.

That day will start like any ordinary day. People will be eating, drinking, getting married, buying, selling, planting, and building.

Then Jesus will appear and judgment will come.

Third, the righteous will be spared that judgment that ends in death. Jesus said,

But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. (Luke 17:29-30)

Note that it says after Lot left Sodom, judgment fell. Jesus said the same would be true on the day of his return.

The righteous will be taken out from among the unrighteous, and then judgment will fall.

Next, it doesn’t matter who you are associated with, judgment will fall on you if you are not right with God when Jesus comes. Jesus warned,

I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.

Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left. (Luke 17:34-35)

Finally, judgment is certain. Jesus closed by saying,

Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather. (Luke 17:37)

Just as the vultures will fall upon dead corpses, so judgment will fall upon those who are spiritually dead.

So ultimately, the question is, are you ready?

Where is your heart? Are you in love with the things of this world, or with God? For the day of judgment will show what’s truly in your heart.

When Jesus comes, those who truly love him will gladly go out to meet him in the air. But those who are instead in love with the things of earth, will instead be dreading the loss of what they have.

So Jesus warned his disciples,

Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. (Luke 17:32-33)

Lot’s wife, when judgment fell on the city, looked back with sadness on the life she was forced to leave, and as a result, judgment fell on her.

The same will happen to you if your heart belongs to this world when Jesus comes.

What’s in your heart today?

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Psalms

The God who is faithful to his promises

Psalms

This is an interesting psalm.  It starts with a prayer to God, and it ends with his answer.  I don’t know of many psalms offhand that are like this.

Psalm 132 is one of the last songs of ascent.

And as the people went up to Jerusalem, they asked that God remember his promises to David long ago.  That God would remember his promises to keep his descendants on the throne if they would but obey his commands.

They also recalled David’s desire to build a house for God, and now as they ascended up the hill to Jerusalem, they expressed their joy in going up to worship.  They sang,

Let us go to his dwelling place;
let us worship at his footstool.  (Psalm 132:7)

And they asked of God,

Arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.

May your priests be clothed with righteousness;
may your saints sing for joy.  (8-9)

In other words, “Come and meet us.  May your priests be holy before you, and fill us with your joy.”

That also should be our attitude as we come to worship.

Asking that God would meet us.  Asking God that would make us holy in his sight (remembering that God now calls us his priests here on earth).  And asking that God would fill us with his joy.

After the pilgrim’s prayer, God answers them basically point for point.

He promised to meet with them in Zion, making it his resting place, blessing all who dwell there.

He granted their requests promising to clothe the priests with his salvation and filling the people with joy.

And he promised to send one who would reign on David’s throne, one who would reign over his enemies, with a resplendent crown upon his head.

This of course will ultimately be fulfilled in Jesus when he returns.

The thing I get from all of this is hope.  God never changes, and neither do his promises.  What he has said, he will do.

And so I look forward to the day when Jesus comes back and all that God has promised will come to fruition.

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Psalms

When Christ reigns

Psalms

Psalm 72 is a song written by Solomon that looks forward to the time when Christ, the great King, reigns.

So often we look at the people ruling or governing our nations, and all we are left with is disappointment.

People that should be looking out for our interests and the interests of the nation only look out for themselves.  The only time they look out for others is if they feel that it’s toward their benefit.

But here we see Christ reigning in true righteousness.  A king who judges justly and looks out for those who are afflicted and needy.  A king who does so because he truly cares about them (Psalm 72:1-4, 12-14).

We also see a king whom under the righteous prosper and will find blessing.  I like verse 6 where it says,

May he be like rain falling on a mown field,
like showers watering the earth.

But most of all, I like verse 17 where it says,

Then all nations will be blessed through him,
and they will call him blessed.

One can’t help but think that Solomon had in mind God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12 where he said,

I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing….all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.  (Genesis 12:2-3)

In Christ, we will see the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham.  And so Solomon closes with this benediction:

Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.

Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.  Amen and Amen.  (18-19)

Amen.  Come soon Lord Jesus.

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Jeremiah

Great and unsearchable things

Jeremiah

I love verse 3 in this chapter.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3)

Honestly, I need to do a lot more seeking of God in my life.  It seems like I say that a lot lately. 

Somehow, however, I find myself getting wrapped up in my life, and not just the important things.  (I’m wondering if I should say “important” rather than important).

I think of Jesus and his lifestyle.  Every morning he spent time with his Father. 

How much power and insight did he receive from those times?  How much more power and insight would I have if I did the same. 

I do spend time in the Word, but I do need to spend a lot more time in prayer, and in simply listening to him.  And the thing is, God promises that if we seek him, we will find him, and he will speak.

Of course, we all need insight into our lives and for our future.  But there is one great and unsearchable thing that I think we would all do well to remember:  God’s grace.

And that’s what this chapter is about.  It starts, though, with the judgment of God.  That because of Israel’s sin, judgment was coming.  Not exactly a great and unsearchable thing anyone wants to hear.

But then, he says,

Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security…

I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. 

Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth… (Jeremiah 33:6,8-9)

While speaking to the Israelites, much of this applies to us. 

Though we have been broken by sin, God brings spiritual health and healing to us.  He cleanses us from our sins and forgives our rebellion against him. 

He gives us abundant peace and security.  And we will be a people for his renown, joy, and praise, and honor among the nations.

How much would our lives be different if we would reflect on these things each day.  How grateful would we be to him?  And having received God’s grace, how would it shape our attitudes towards others and our lives?

But there’s one more great and unsearchable thing to remember:  The day is coming when Jesus will return. 

In verse 14-16, Jeremiah writes,

The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. 

“‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch (that is, Jesus) sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. 

In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety.  This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.’”

So often we focus on things that are temporary.  But if we would reflect on the fact that Jesus is coming soon, do we really have time to waste on things that are temporary? 

How much would our priorities change if we would remember that?