The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Thessalonians 3:13,
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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"May he [the Lord] 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."
As Paul expresses his joy to the Thessalonian believers over hearing of their steadfastness in faith in the face of persecution and the love they have and their longing to see Paul again, he offers up a blessing for them. He asks that the Lord provide them strength of heart that they might be found holy and blameless in the presence of God the Father when Jesus Christ comes "with all his holy ones."
The conscious awareness of the coming of our Lord for us is an important issue. It should retain a place of importance among the things that occupy our minds. The Lord is coming and our lives should reflect this in the joyful anticipation of his return for us. It should bring an "edge" of excitement in our relationship with him that is expressed in love, joy and faith that forms the appointed fullness for all of us who have embraced him in faith.
The outlook is very good that we be strengthened in him, as it is God's very faithfulness that Paul points to, in another letter, as the agent that makes it happen. "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." 1 Corinthians 1:8-9. In Jude's wonderful doxology we read, "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude 24-25.
Just how wonderful is that?!
As Paul expresses his joy to the Thessalonian believers over hearing of their steadfastness in faith in the face of persecution and the love they have and their longing to see Paul again, he offers up a blessing for them. He asks that the Lord provide them strength of heart that they might be found holy and blameless in the presence of God the Father when Jesus Christ comes "with all his holy ones."
The conscious awareness of the coming of our Lord for us is an important issue. It should retain a place of importance among the things that occupy our minds. The Lord is coming and our lives should reflect this in the joyful anticipation of his return for us. It should bring an "edge" of excitement in our relationship with him that is expressed in love, joy and faith that forms the appointed fullness for all of us who have embraced him in faith.
The outlook is very good that we be strengthened in him, as it is God's very faithfulness that Paul points to, in another letter, as the agent that makes it happen. "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." 1 Corinthians 1:8-9. In Jude's wonderful doxology we read, "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude 24-25.
Just how wonderful is that?!
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!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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