Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – February 1, 2017
They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Revelation 20:4-5
The first time Jesus came to save the people from their sin he was in a modest manager. He was not the King, but He threatened the King. Jesus is coming a second time with a grand entrance as King of kings to judge the people for their sin and dead works. The first time He rode on a humble donkey, but He will ride this second time on a brazen horse. This is the first resurrection.
Christ’s second coming must matter most to the church because we are His bride, the body of Christ. How can the church be ready to greet its Godly groom, Jesus? Like any faithful wife whose husband is traveling for work or waging war overseas, we want to greet Him with a holy kiss. A faithful church is not conformed by the culture, rather it conforms the culture. The faithful bride of Christ is ready to rejoice at His glorious sight!
“May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones” (1 Thessalonians 3:13).
When Christ comes back He wants to catch the church evangelizing the lost and making disciples. He hungers for her disputes to be with the devil and not with each other. A humble church does not use finances to build man’s kingdom, but instead deploys resources to advance the kingdom of God. The church is ready for Christ’s return when she serves the poor, ministers to the body, prays for the sick and preaches the gospel!
Christ’s coming is also compelling for individual Christians. We want to be about our Lord’s business and not preoccupied with activities and assets that will burn up one day. The judgment seat of Christ is for Christians not to be judged for salvation, but to be judged for the quality of their works. You are wise when you invest in eternal matters with your time and money. Christ-like character, missions, prayer, Bible teaching, corporate and individual worship and service in the community all make Jesus smile. When Christ comes make sure He catches you about your Father’s business:
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:9-10).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, by faith I trust You as Jesus tarries, and I will serve You as if He were coming back soon.Application
How can my church and I get ready for the second coming of Christ?Related Reading
Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 23:13; 1 Corinthians 3:9-15; 4:5Post/Tweet today
When Christ comes back make sure He catches you about your Father’s business. #WisdomHunters #Christ’scomingbackWorship Resource
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