|
"Good evening!
Tomorrow I will be at the Meadows, the assisted living center in town, to
lead a Bible study of Acts. All are welcome!
We meet Tuesdays from 9:45-10:45 a.m., except for the first Tuesday of
the month, but because of two funerals that came up on two Tuesdays in a
row, we have not met for some time!
I missed my senior friends on those weeks we did not meet. I treasure the
time I have with each of them and enjoy getting to know them better. I
come early to set up and greet all the folks as they arrive. But
sometimes they are ready and waiting for me, long before I arrive!
They are ready in more than one aspect. They are physically ready in that
they have dressed and eaten, but also they are ready emotionally and
spiritually. They are in good cheer, no matter how they are feeling that
day. They are open to learning more about God and the Bible, life in
ancient times, and how they can apply their spiritual learning to their
own lives.
In I Thessalonians 5:1-11, we are reminded of the importance of preparing
ourselves for the Lord’s return. We don’t know when He is coming, so we
must be physically ready and alert all the time. This includes refraining
from drinking too much alcohol:
“So then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and
be sober; for those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk
get drunk at night.”
We must also be emotionally and spiritually ready all the time. Our Lord
will “come like a thief in the night”—when we least expect it. This
readiness involves mindfully “putting on” faith, love and hope like body
armor. This serves to protect and keep us from evil and so that we will
have peace in our assurance of salvation through Him:
“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the
breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through
our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or
asleep we may live with him.”
Here is my wish for you, my friends. May you be clothed in the “armor” of
faith, love and hope always as you seek to follow after Christ. May you
be ready in heart, mind, body and soul for our Lord and Savior’s return.
Because He is coming soon! Alleluia!
He is coming again!
Let us pray.
Holy God, thank you for our assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ and
for Your gifts of faith, hope and love. Help us to be patient as we await
our Lord, who will come when we aren’t expecting Him. Prepare us
emotionally and spiritually for Christ’s return by stirring us to be ever
mindful of our responsibility as children of the “day” and not of the
“night” and live the life of faith, hope, and love you call and equip us
to live. And Lord, I pray a special blessing on our senior friends and
family members, who are such a blessing to us. Give them Your joy,
strength, wisdom, and peace as they seek to obey Your Will their whole
life through. In Christ we pray. Amen.
Blessings in Christ!
Pastor Karen
|
Comments
Post a Comment