Category Archives: Christ’s Return

Child Rearing, Christ's Return, Christianity, Comfort, Death, Disciplemaking, Evangelism, Family, Fatherhood, Forgiveness, Heaven, Inspirational, Love, Mentoring, Ministry, Modeling, Motherhood, Parenting, Praise, Rapture, Resurrection, Sanctification, Thanksgiving, Witnessing

HEAVENLY LIVING


1 THESSALONIANS 5:10

“who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.” 

I just cAn’t get over the imagery of Christ’s death. It is His death on the cross that gives us the opportunity for life, life eternal. Paul is assuring the Thessalonians and us that whether they are alive when Christ returns or are asleep (as we saw in chapter 4), we WILL be with Christ for eternity.

There are not many people I can think of I would want to live with here on earth. Living with people requires you to share space. It requires you to communicate with them about household stuff. People you live with now just get in your stuff, don’t they? But eternal living will be different. Why? Because our focus will NOT be on us. It will be on Him. 

APPLICATION

Why not ask your children how they like living in their family. Get ready for some crazy answers. Ask them if they could, who would they add or leave out. Now, this is not a time for scolding or correcting. Just let them answer and tell why. You could learn a lot by their answers. 

After you have heard all their answers, talk about our eternal home. Explain how living here is really just preparation for living there. Getting along with family here is preparing us for eternal living. Encourage them to be more forgiving of that brother or sister whom they may spend eternity with. Model this for them by treating your spouse with the kind of affection you will receive from Jesus in your heavenly home. 

Are you ready for eternal living? If you are a believer, God is trying to get you ready each day down here. He is attempting to mold you into a perfect eternal kingdom citizen. Just think how sweet it would be if we could start living heavenly down here. Heaven on earth is possible if we let Him live in and through us.

Father God, give me the wisdom today to live heavenly. Let me treat my earthly family like I will treat my heavenly family. Give me Your eyes today to see them as You see them.

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THE DARK SIDE OF NIGHT


1 THESSALONIANS 5:7

“For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.” 

My daddy used to say, “There is not a thing you can do after 11 p.m. that you can’t do before 11 p.m.” In other words, you don’t need to be out past 11 p.m. Those late hours just lead to trouble. And it’s true. People seem to stop thinking straight late at night.

And most people do their sleeping at night. I feel sorry for people who have to try to sleep during the day. That must be hard to adjust to. What is Paul saying here? When you are sleeping or drunk, you are not focused on Christ. Your mind shuts off or your mind is altered. He is telling us to remain alert.

APPLICATION

When you put your little Johnny or Susie to bed tonight teach them to have the Lord as their last thought before they drift off into sleep. Plant good thoughts in their heads. Read them something from God’s Word. If you read this verse, you may want to just read the first half to avoid a long discussion at bedtime about getting drunk, lol.

I know a lot of parents who play scripture songs very low at night for their children to sleep by. I like that. Even during the middle of the night, they can wake up to His Word. We just need to keep our children centered on righteous living. We need to teach them to focus on God and His Word at all times. It will direct them on the righteous path.

To whom are you listening? Are you “sleeping” too much? Are you staying “drunk”? Now, I don’t mean to imply you are always in your bed or drinking. But many of us act as if that is what we are doing due to our apathetic view of God. We don’t have any use for Him until we need Him. Remain alert today. Look heavenward today. He may just surprise you.

Keep me alert and ready to respond, Lord. I want to be used by You, and that means I must be ready at all times. Help me to make sure each of my actions are pleasing to You.

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DON’T PASS OUT


1 THESSALONIANS 5:6

“so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.” 

Paul is admonishing us to stay awake, to not get lazy, to remain “alert and sober.” But for how long? As long as it takes. Paul doesn’t specify a timeframe. He just says, through the Holy Spirit, to not sleep, to say alert and to stay sober. 

When you are asleep you aren’t aware of what is going on around you. When you are drunk you don’t have control of your senses. You get confused. As believers, we have to be alert at all times. This isn’t just in reference to Christ’s return, but it applies to everyday life. 

APPLICATION

I had the privilege to take my great nephew out hunting last season. One thing I told him as we climbed the tree to get into our tree stands was to stay alert. He couldn’t sleep and expect to see any deer approaching. He couldn’t start daydreaming and spot that allusive white-tail buck creeping up.  He had to stay alert and undistracted.

Most children are easily distracted. The latest fad or video game will consume them. Make sure your children spend time every day in His Word and in prayer. That doesn’t have to be for hours, but there should specific time set aside for this every day. And as they go through the rest of their day, they should stay alert for God moments. He is at work all around us.

Are you alert and sober? Are you awake? Allow the Holy Spirit to give you the energy to stay focused on Him. We don’t have a “5 hour energy” drink for God. It has to be a deliberate decision on your part to look toward God and allow Him to work in and through you. Do that today.

I need You, O Lord, to stay alert and sober. I need You to keep me focused on heavenly things. I praise You for Your strength to do this today.

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GET READY, GET SET, …


1 THESSALONIANS 5:4

“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;” 

The last several verses in 1 Thessalonians have been focused on the return of Christ. We know, as believers, that we are going. We know He is coming quickly. But in this verse Paul tells us that we won’t be surprised IF… If what? If we are not in darkness.

All through Scripture darkness is an analogy for sin. Think about it – if we are walking in darkness (sin), we will be preoccupied with our self. We won’t have our minds set on things above, as Colossians 3 tells us. When we are in sin our focus is completely off Christ. But if we are walking in light and living expectedly for His return, we won’t be caught off guard.

APPLICATION

Children love tag games. Remember being “it” and having to count to 100 or so. Then you would yell, “Ready or not, here I come.” They love to race each other. Someone lines up the racers and shouts, “Get ready, get set, GO!”

With both of these examples you have a warning. With both of these examples there is no surprise. That’s how it is for the believer who is watching for Christ’s return. It’s almost like the Father in heaven is saying, “Get ready, get set…” When we accept Christ as our Savior, we are ready and set. All that is left is “Go.”

Are you ready and set to go? Are you walking in the light so that you will not be surprised? If you are walking in darkness right now, get out of it. Get back into the light of God’s Word. Get into fellowship with Him and other believers. Ready or not, here HE comes.

O Lord, You will be a welcomed sight. I want to stay in the light so that I can clearly see You. Help me stay out of the darkness of sin.

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SUDDENLY


1 THESSALONIANS 5:3

“While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.” 

It’s pretty amazing to me that the word “suddenly” is only used two times in the New Testament – here and in Luke 21:34, where it also is referring to the return of Christ. In the Luke passage, it is Christ Himself saying it. Wow! Don’t you think we should get prepared?

Sudden things can be both exciting and terrifying. For the unbeliever, the sudden return of Christ will be terrifying. They will be left behind to face a world without any holy influence. But for the believers, it is an exciting event we can look forward to. I am ready, aren’t you?

APPLICATION

Ask your little Elrod how fast he thinks “suddenly” is. Let him explain in the best way he knows how. Children can be quite descriptive if you give them a chance. Write down how he describes it. Then look up some definitions of the word.  It can mean quickly, unexpectedly, immediately or instantaneously. In other words, it’s fast.

The point is this. Make sure your child knows now fast He will return. They can’t see Him coming and get ready. They have to be ready BEFORE He returns. There is no in between. Prepare your children for His coming. Prepare your family because He is coming before you know it.  Suddenly!

Are you prepared for His sudden return? His sudden return will not catch you by surprise if you have already surrendered to Him. Be ready and watch! Then “suddenly” will be a welcomed word. And you will SUDDENLY we caught up with Him in the air.

Father, I praise You for promising the SUDDEN return of Your Son. I am ready to see Him part the sky. Sudden can’t be quick enough!

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GOOD THIEF?


1 THESSALONIANS 5:2

“For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.” 

Now, why in the world would Paul call Jesus a thief? First of all, we have to remember every word of Scripture is inspired by God. So, these are His words, not Paul’s. Secondly, Paul is not calling Jesus a thief. He said He will be “like a thief.” This word for thief describes someone who comes in silently, covertly to take something. We actually get our word “cleptomania” from it. 

Jesus will return for His bride, the church, without fanfare or warning. He will suddenly appear, and we will be taken. Poof! He will literally “steal” us away without notice. The lost world will be reeling, wondering what happened. I am sure they will explain it away, but there will be no explanation for millions of people simply vanishing. But we will know, won’t we?

APPLICATION

Trying to explain this to children can be challenging. The idea of a thief is frightening to everyone. Make sure you emphasize that Paul is just comparing the suddenness to Christ’s return to an unexpected thief, not that He is one.  Get your children to act out how they think Christ will return. Remember, His character is still portrayed in everything He does.

How do we get them to apply this to their lives? Ask them who Jesus will NOT be taking with Him? Any and all unbelievers will be left behind. Ask them who they know who are not believers. And ask them to explain how they think the world will look when the Lord takes ALL believers out. Probably not too good. If all good is gone, what is left?  Evil! I certainly don’t want to live in that.

So, what can you do to ensure as many people as you know get “stolen away” by the Lord? Speak the gospel. Spread the good news. Preach truth to your neighbors. Share it with a friend. Just do whatever you must to get them to receive the Lord before it’s too late. 

Thank You, Lord, for giving us warning through this verse today. We know You will return soon and without notice. Help me to be even more vocal about You to others.

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WHAT TIME IS IT?


1 THESSALONIANS 5:1

“Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.” 

Have you ever been waiting for something and you kept checking your watch? Or if you forgot your watch, you are asking someone else every two minutes what time it is. It can make you over anxious. You know it’s coming. You just can’t wait! You are fidgety, nervous and excited.

Paul is telling the Thessalonians (and us) to chill. They know the Lord is going to return, so just carry on until that day. There was no need to know more. He said He was going to return, and He will. Just wait. Don’t look for anymore answers or clues. Don’t believe anyone who tells you differently. He is on His way. Only the Father knows the exact day and hour. 

APPLICATION

Oh my! Do I really need to tell you how to apply this verse? Kids are notoriously good about doing this? “Is it time?” “Are we there yet?” “When will they get here?” They can overload you with their questions when they are excited about something. They can run and jump and squeal with excitement just thinking about what is coming. 

The next time this happens, use this verse. Explain to them that, as believers, we are ALL anticipating the Lord’s return. We could spend all our time watching and pacing the floor, but He doesn’t want us to do that. He wants us to be busy with the work of His kingdom. He wants us to be serving and loving others. Then suddenly, He will be here. And He will catch us doing the very thing He has asked us to do.

Are you excited? Are you actively engaged in doing the Lord’s bidding? He is coming, but don’t just sit around and wait. Prepare the way of the Lord. Tell as many as you can about Him. Do His work while there is still time. He is coming, and it won’t be long. 

I can’t wait to see Your face, Lord. That may happen in the air or in heaven, but I know You are true to Your word. You are coming again. Thank You for the peace I can have as I wait.

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COMFORTING WORDS


1 THESSALONIANS 4:18

“Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

Who doesn’t want to be comforted? When we are feeling down or something terrible has happened, we all need someone to come along beside us and speak words of comfort to us. A large part of my job as a Minister has been doing that. I have had to tell way too many children that their mom or dad died. Or I have had to hold far too many hands of people who were sick or facing surgery. 

Paul is instructing the Thessalonians to use the words he had just written to them to comfort each other regarding those among them who had gone on to glory. He wanted them to rest in the fact that they were with Jesus. No one was going to be left in the grave. Those are, indeed, comforting words.

APPLICATION

If you have children, then you have had to comfort them at some point. When they were babies and were crying for seemingly no reason, you held them, sang to them and loved on them. When they got a little older you probably talked to them with soft, kind words to try to quiet their little hearts.  Words of comfort are normally welcomed and productive.

My youngest granddaughter loves to be whispered to. I can hold her and whisper blessings in her ear, and she will just freeze with her ear next to my mouth. I whisper comforting words like, “Poppy loves you, God loves you, Jesus loves you, you are precious and special, you are beautiful.” And my favorite words I whisper are “God has a wonderful plan for your life.” Sweet, soft comforting words.

Can you do that today for someone? Who do you know needs those words of comfort? Reassure them. Draw them close and tell them how much God loves them. Let them know they are not alone. Remind them of God’s promises to His children. It will bless you as much as it blesses them.

Father, thank You for comforting me. Give me the words and the opportunity to comfort another today. Allow Your words of truth to speak to their very spirit.

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SNATCHED UP


1 THESSALONIANS 4:17

“Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 

There is much debate about the Rapture.  Some say it’s not in the Bible. Others say it is. Many just don’t want to think about it. Well…here it is!  Today’s verse, of course, doesn’t use the word “rapture,” but “caught up” is where the term comes from. It’s a long story, but through translations from Greek to Latin to English, we get the term Rapture, to be caught up or snatched up.

It’s going to happen quickly. It’s going to be sudden. But it is NOT unexpected or unwelcomed by the believer. I remember a James Bond movie where he was rescued by a plane by a rescue rope tied to a balloon. The plane flew by snatched the rope which was descending from the balloon and 007 was snatched from the ground to rescue. He was expecting it and wanted it. That’s us with Jesus. We are expecting Him and wanting Him to snatch us up.

APPLICATION

If you have little ones, you know they love to be picked up and carried. They will throw up their arms and practically jump into yours. They want to be snatched up. Why? Because they love you and want to be with you. The next time you do that think on this verse.

If your children or grandchildren are too old to “snatch up,” ask them if they remember you picking them up. They may not, so remind them. If you have a video or picture of that, show them. Then tell them about this verse. Jesus is coming back to “snatch” them to glory, if they are a believer. And just like you, He will do it because of His love for them.

Are you ready to be snatched up, to be raptured? Are you ready to be caught up in the air with the Lord? I pray you are. If you aren’t, you had better get ready. He is coming soon. He is on His way. He will deliver you from the evils of this world, if you will only trust Him and yield your life to Him.

I cannot wait for that ultimate thrill ride, Lord. I look towards the sky, anticipating Your strong arms to snatch me up to heaven. I long to feel Your embrace.

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HERE I COME!


1 THESSALONIANS 4:16

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” 

I know people who are afraid they are going to miss Christ’s return. Seriously? He’s coming with a shout, the voice of the archangel and a trumpet. If you are a believer, your ears will be tuned to that frequency. There will be no missing this. HE will make sure of that. You will know He has arrived. Yahoo!

I can’t wait! I am so ready to go to glory. But…there are many of my friends, neighbors and loved ones who, if He came right now, would not be joining me. That makes me sad. That breaks my heart. I want them to go, but I can’t sneak them into heaven. They have to make that decision on their own. And that is only possible by surrendering to Jesus.

APPLICATION

Ask your child today who they want to go to heaven with. Now, I know, they are not going now, but ask them. Let them name everyone they can think of. Now make sure they understand that in order for them to go with them they ALL have to be Christians. They all must have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Encourage your child to share Christ with them, if they are not saved. People will respond to little children sometimes quicker than they will to an adult.

Of course, your child must also make this decision. No child gets into heaven based on their parents’ faith. Once they have reached that age where they understand the gospel (age of accountability – which is whole other subject), they must make their own decision for Christ. Then automatically, their ears get tuned into that trumpet call. Then they will hear that shout and the voice of the archangel.

Are you ready? Are your friends and family ready? If not, get ready! He’s coming. It could be today. It could be tomorrow. But He is coming. If you are ready, do all you can to reach as many as you can as fast as you can. 

You are returning one day, O Lord. I am ready. Help me reach all I can before that great day!

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