Category Archives: Comfort

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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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