Tag: The Lord’s return

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Mark Devotionals

Faithfully doing what God has given us to do

faithfulness

Watch! Be alert! For you don’t know when the time is coming.

It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert.

Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming… (Mark 13:33-35)

The master “gave authority to his servants, gave each one his work.”

Those words caught my attention. Jesus will return to this earth someday. But in the meantime, he has given each of us work to do. More, he’s given us the authority to do so.

We don’t have to wait for someone to give us permission to do the work he’s assigned to us. All we need to do is be faithful and do it.

Recently, I’ve been thinking about myself. I try to be faithful with what God’s entrusted me. But I have noticed times when I lack confidence. When I fear failure. And because of that, I sometimes hesitate in doing the things God’s asking me to do.

That’s what I need to push past. That’s where I’m seeking to grow. I want to boldly do whatever God asks of me with no fear.

How about you? What work has God given you? Who has he put in your life to touch? And are you being faithful?

Lord, as I wait for your return, let me be faithful in what you’ve given me to do.

Categories
Acts Devotionals

Because our Lord is returning

Acts

They said, “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)

When I read that this morning, I was thinking, “What was the angels’ point?”

Was it merely a statement of fact?

“Jesus is coming back someday the way you saw him leave?”

Or were they trying to say something more?

At a guess, they were trying to say something more. I think they were pointing to Jesus’ own words while he was still on earth.

Be ready for service and have your lamps lit. You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once…

Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes. (Luke 12:35-36, 43)

In other words, the angels were telling the disciples, “Don’t just stand there. He’s coming back. So start doing what he’s told you to do.”

Of course, the first thing for the disciples was not actually going out and spreading the gospel. Rather they were told to wait for the Holy Spirit to come and fill them.

But even as they were waiting, they spent time together in prayer and appointed a new person to take Judas’ place.

How often do we think about the fact that our Lord is returning? And how often does that drive us to do the things he’s asked us to do?

Honestly, it’s so easy to get caught up in all I’m doing, and not think about what God wants me to be doing. To waste too much time with things that are not important.

How about you? Are you doing the things God has asked you to do?

Lord you are coming back. I don’t know when that is, but when you do, I don’t want you to see me wasting my time with things that are unimportant.

Show me what you want me to be doing. Show me who you want me to be touching. And when you do return, may you find me doing the work that you’ve given me to do. In your name I pray, amen.

Categories
1 Thessalonians

Because the Lord is coming

I am coming soon

After talking about being ready for the Lord’s return, Paul gives us some instructions on how we as a church and as individual Christians are to live. And he starts with our relationships with each other.

In talking about our leaders within the church, Paul says,

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 

Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

How often do we take our pastors and other church leaders for granted? How often do we criticize them and disrespect them for their mistakes or failings?

The truth is, we all fail. We all could be subject to criticism if the spotlight were put on us.

But while it is true that leaders are to be held to a higher standard, Paul tells us, “Respect your leaders. They’re working hard for you, probably more than you know.

And don’t just respect them, hold them in the highest regard. Do this in love because of all that they do for you, for God, and his kingdom.”

Why? Because the Lord is coming.

We don’t have time to constantly criticize our pastors and leaders for every little fault they may have and every little mistake they may make.

God will hold them responsible for what they do. He is their judge, not you. So instead of making their lives miserable, Paul says,

Live in peace with each other. (13b)

Remember that while they may be over you in the Lord, they are also your brothers and sisters. So instead of fighting against them, work with them as God leads them and you.

Paul goes on to say,

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. (14)

Pastors and leaders in the church are not the only ones subject to criticism. Often times, others are too. And if they are truly in sin, Paul tells us we are to warn them.

For others, they are timid and easily intimidated by the Enemy in this spiritual war we fight. So encourage them. Stand and fight by their side. Help them be strong in the midst of their circumstances.

Others in the church are weak, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. And Paul says to help them. For they are our brothers and sisters too.

And for all these, we are to be patient with them, knowing that the Lord is patient with us too. God hasn’t given up on us. We shouldn’t give up on each other.

Finally, Paul says,

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. (15)

Even within the church, people wrong us. And it can be hard to forgive.

But again, the Lord is coming. And we can’t afford to hold grudges and bitterness in our hearts. So Paul says to again leave judgment to God, and instead respond with kindness to those who wrong us.

And not only to those within the church, but to those without, that they may see the love of Christ and may be drawn to him too.

The Lord is coming soon.

How are you treating your pastors and leaders?

How are you treating your brothers and sisters in Christ?

And how are you treating those people God has put around you outside the church?