TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 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 3:12-13)
First Thessalonians is a letter from the Apostle Paul to the Christians in the city of Thessalonica around twenty years after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. This church was persecuted and oppressed and needed to be reminded of the faithfulness of the Lord. Paul wrote to encourage the Thessalonians to continue to grow in godliness and maturity.
The people of this church expected that Jesus would come back in their lifetime but were upset when some of their membership passed away before Christ’s return. This unsettled the Thessalonians because they feared that those who had died would not get to participate in the resurrection. Paul wrote to assure the church that when Jesus comes again, the dead in Christ shall rise first, while those still living will follow close behind. All believers will meet Jesus in the air to spend eternity with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16–18).
Everyone would like to have some insight into the things to come. But, even though we do not know exactly what the future holds, we know who holds the future. So, until Jesus comes again, follow the advice of our scripture for today. Ask the Lord to help you love like Jesus loves. Further, ask God to make you stronger and more consistent in your faith. Then, you can rest assured; through Christ you will be blameless, holy, confident, and unashamed when you stand before Him on that day!
Opmerkingen