20 ways to wait for Jesus' next coming - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10,

"They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."

Paul tells the Thessalonians of what he has heard of them. They had turned from idols to live for God and to wait for Jesus' coming back from heaven for believers. In this letter Paul provides some direction as to how we are to live our lives as the wait continues for God's perfect timing, "You know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus." 4:2. These are the directions on how "to wait for his Son from heaven":

1. "You should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. 4:3-6.

2. "in fact, you do love all of God's family throughout Macedonia.Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more..." 4:10.

3. "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." 4:11.

4. "Therefore encourage one another with these words." 4:18. "These words" refers to Paul's explanation of how those who have died in the Lord will precede those still living and remaining at the Lord's return, for us all to be caught up with the Lord "in the clouds" to meet him in the air, to be with him forever, 4:17.

5. "But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet." 5:8. Faith, hope and love.

6. "Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 5:11.

7. "Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work." 5:12-13.

8. "Live in peace with each other", 5:13.

9. "And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive", 5:14.

10. "encourage the disheartened", 5:14.

11. "help the weak", 5:14.

12. "be patient with everyone", 5:14.

13. "Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong", 5:15.

14. "always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else", 5:15.

15. "Rejoice always", 5:16.

16. "Pray continually", 5:17.

17. "Give thanks in all circumstances", 5:18.

18. "Do not quench the Spirit", 5:19.

19 "Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all", 5:20-21.

20. "hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil." 5:21-22.

These twenty things are not what brings us God's love and they do not bring us God's acceptance. These are instructions for believers and believers have already received God's love, and, through faith, have already secured God's acceptance. These are things believers are to do while we await Jesus' coming for us at the end of the age. 

Are any optional? I didn't note any options provided in this letter. As Paul was the Lord's apostle, his emissary, these are the things the Lord asks of us. We can claim Jesus is our Lord, but doing these things proves he is our Lord.

May we all demonstrate the lordship of Jesus Christ in our lives through the way we await his return!

 

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com