Time

We don’t need to write to you about the timing and dates, brothers and sisters. 2 You know very well that the day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. 3 When they are saying, “There is peace and security,” at that time sudden destruction will attack them, like labor pains start with a pregnant woman, and they definitely won’t escape. 4 But you aren’t in darkness, brothers and sisters, so the day won’t catch you by surprise like a thief. 5 All of you are children of light and children of the day. We don’t belong to night or darkness. 6 So then, let’s not sleep like the others, but let’s stay awake and stay sober. 7 People who sleep sleep at night, and people who get drunk get drunk at night. 8 Since we belong to the day, let’s stay sober, wearing faithfulness and love as a piece of armor that protects our body and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 God didn’t intend for us to suffer his wrath but rather to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 Jesus died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with him. 11 So continue encouraging each other and building each other up, just like you are doing already. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, CEB)

Like a thief in the night. If you knew when the thief was coming you would not have let them break-in.

We are so worried about the timing of when Christ will return, but it really isn’t for us to know.

We just need to be the light for the world. Sharing the mercy and grace we have received and helping all to know God loves them.

It will all happen in the time it should, and that is something we need to worry about.

Loving People. Loving God.

peace in me

25 “I’ve been using figures of speech with you. The time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in such analogies. Instead, I will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name. I’m not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 The Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and believed that I came from God. 28 I left the Father and came into the world. I tell you again: I am leaving the world and returning to the Father.” 29 His disciples said, “See! Now you speak plainly; you aren’t using figures of speech. 30 Now we know that you know everything and you don’t need anyone to ask you. Because of this we believe you have come from God.” 31 Jesus replied, “Now you believe? 32 Look! A time is coming—and is here!—when each of you will be scattered to your own homes and you will leave me alone. I’m not really alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I’ve said these things to you so that you will have peace in me. In the world you have distress. But be encouraged! I have conquered the world.” (John 16:25-33, CEB)

Now you believe? What caused you to believe?

We will have stress in the world, but peace in Jesus.

Trust in the promises and know that they will be given. Jesus is always with us no matter what we go through.

Do not be dismayed or held down by this world. Be of good courage and follow where Jesus leads knowing the promises are true.

Be encouraged and encourage others.

Loving People. Loving God.

Rule forever

15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, and he will rule forever and always.” 16 Then the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God. 17 They said, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and was, for you have taken your great power and enforced your rule. 18 The nations were enraged, but your wrath came. The time came for the dead to be judged. The time came to reward your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.” 19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the chest containing his covenant appeared in his temple. There were lightning, voices, thunder, an earthquake, and large hail. (Revelation 11:15-19, CEB)

In the midst of destruction in Revelation, there is hope.

Hope because Christ will rule forever.

And all will worship God forever as God in Christ rules.

Everything is in the hands of God.

Share love and help others remember this hope.

Loving People. Loving God.

a vision

Then I was given a measuring rod, which was like a pole. And I was told, “Get up and measure God’s temple, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But don’t measure the court outside the temple. Leave that out, because it has been given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 “And I will allow my two witnesses to prophesy for one thousand two hundred sixty days, wearing mourning clothes. 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 If anyone wants to hurt them, fire comes out of their mouth and burns up their enemies. So if anyone wants to hurt them, they have to be killed in this way. 6 They have the power to close up the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. They also have power over the waters, to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with any plague, as often as they wish. 7 “When they have finished their witnessing, the beast that comes up from the abyss will make war on them, gain victory over them, and kill them. 8 Their dead bodies will lie on the street of the great city that is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. 9 And for three and a half days, members of the peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will look at their dead bodies, but they won’t let their dead bodies be put in a tomb. 10 Those who live on earth will rejoice over them. They will celebrate and give each other gifts, because these two prophets had brought such pain to those who live on earth. 11 “But after three and a half days, the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet. Great fear came over those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, ‘Come up here.’ And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies watched them. 13 At that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed by the earthquake, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.” 14 The second horror is over. The third horror is coming soon. (Revelation 11:1-14, CEB)

Does this passage make sense apart from the rest of the book? Revelation is a vision in three sections, or at least I was taught that revelation is a vision given to us from three different viewpoints.

So to take part of it is not to really understand what it says. We need to realize this was a book written to the church when it was being persecuted as a way of reminding the followers of Jesus that hope was still coming. That God was in control.

Revelation is a book of hope for those being oppressed.

Let’s hope in the promises.

Loving People. Loving God.

Veritas

33 Pilate went back into the palace. He summoned Jesus and asked, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others spoken to you about me?” 35 Pilate responded, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your nation and its chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus replied, “My kingdom doesn’t originate from this world. If it did, my guards would fight so that I wouldn’t have been arrested by the Jewish leaders. My kingdom isn’t from here.” 37 “So you are a king?” Pilate said. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this reason: to testify to the truth. Whoever accepts the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:33-37, CEB)

Truth. What is truth?

It seems there is a lot of going back and forth nowadays about truth, fake news, and the like.

So what is truth? And do you accept it? Can we not accept the truth?

According to Jesus here, those who accept the truth listen to his voice. That would mean they do what Jesus says. Does anyone always do what Jesus says?

How do we know we are following the truth?

We trust and do what we have been called to do and love like Jesus.

Loving People. Loving God.

whoever

31 The one who comes from above is above all things. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all things. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever accepts his testimony confirms that God is true. 34 The one whom God sent speaks God’s words because God gives the Spirit generously. 35 The Father loves the Son and gives everything into his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever doesn’t believe in the Son won’t see life, but the angry judgment of God remains on them.” (John 3:31-36, CEB)

Whoever accepts Jesus’ testimony confirms God is true. God is true, even if we don’t believe, but when we believe what Jesus tells us we confirm God is true.

Whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life and whoever doesn’t God’s angry judgment remains on them. What happens when God’s angry judgment is on them?

How long do we have until we can’t believe? This was always the topic of dorr knockers, if you were to die tonight, where would you go? You don’t know how much longer you have, so decide now. Scare tactics usually do not help people come to faith. But does God’s angry judgment help that either?

Yesterday’s devo was about order and everything happening in God’s time. So how long do we have to believe?

My wonder why didn’t the door knockers ask a different question, not where will you go when you die, but you are alive today, why are you living? I am living to help everyone come to an understanding of the love of God and that God loves them regardless of what anyone else has told them.

You are a whoever. Help others be a whoever.

Loving People. Loving God.

order

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead. He’s the first crop of the harvest of those who have died. 21 Since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came through one too. 22 In the same way that everyone dies in Adam, so also everyone will be given life in Christ. 23 Each event will happen in the right order: Christ, the first crop of the harvest, then those who belong to Christ at his coming, 24 and then the end, when Christ hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he brings every form of rule, every authority and power to an end. 25 It is necessary for him to rule until he puts all enemies under his feet. 26 Death is the last enemy to be brought to an end, 27 since he has brought everything under control under his feet. When it says that everything has been brought under his control, this clearly means everything except for the one who placed everything under his control. 28 But when all things have been brought under his control, then the Son himself will also be under the control of the one who gave him control over everything so that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:20-28, CEB)

Death came through a human, so resurrection comes through a human.

And we must wait until all has been fulfilled and all the enemies of God are put under his feet. We will all die an earthly death because that is the last enemy that will be taken care of and when that happens, the new heaven and new earth will be created and we will be fully in the kingdom of God.

Until then we must stand firm and trust in the promises and have faith in God.

Loving People. Loving God.

Your past…

54 Once the council members heard these words, they were enraged and began to grind their teeth at Stephen. 55 But Stephen, enabled by the Holy Spirit, stared into heaven and saw God’s majesty and Jesus standing at God’s right side. 56 He exclaimed, “Look! I can see heaven on display and the Human One standing at God’s right side!” 57 At this, they shrieked and covered their ears. Together, they charged at him, 58 threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses placed their coats in the care of a young man named Saul. 59 As they battered him with stones, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, accept my life!” 60 Falling to his knees, he shouted, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” Then he died. 8 1 Saul was in full agreement with Stephen’s murder.  (Acts 7:54—8:1a, CEB)

Have you ever run into somebody you knew from a long time ago? I have and I tell them I’m a pastor and some of my old friends say, “seriously! you’re a pastor. With all the stuff you use to do?”

Yes. Because what I did in my past doesn’t define who I am today or what God has done in my life.

In the stoning of Stephen passage we read above, a young man named Saul held the cloaks of those stoning Stephen. And he, Saul, was in agreement with Stephen being killed.

This young man would go on to persecute the followers of the way, those who believed in Jesus. And then on the road to Damascus, Saul was blinded and met by Jesus. When he regained his sight he started going by his Greek name Paul and was the greatest missionary for Christ in his time.

We don’t judge Paul by his past as Saul and we should not judge others by their pasts either. Your past doesn’t define you. That is where you were, and God is taking you to way more wonderful places.

Loving People. Loving God.

a rose garden?

9 “Watch out for yourselves. People will hand you over to the councils. You will be beaten in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of me so that you can testify before them. 10 First, the good news must be proclaimed to all the nations. 11 When they haul you in and hand you over, don’t worry ahead of time about what to answer or say. Instead, say whatever is given to you at that moment, for you aren’t doing the speaking but the Holy Spirit is. 12 Brothers and sisters will hand each other over to death. A father will turn in his children. Children will rise up against their parents and have them executed. 13 Everyone will hate you because of my name. But whoever stands firm until the end will be saved. 14 “When you see the disgusting and destructive thing standing where it shouldn’t be (the reader should understand this), then those in Judea must escape to the mountains. 15 Those on the roof shouldn’t come down or enter their houses to grab anything. 16 Those in the field shouldn’t come back to grab their clothes. 17 How terrible it will be at that time for women who are pregnant and for women who are nursing their children. 18 Pray that it doesn’t happen in winter. 19 In those days there will be great suffering such as the world has never before seen and will never again see. 20 If the Lord hadn’t shortened that time, no one would be rescued. But for the sake of the chosen ones, the ones whom God chose, he has cut short the time. 21 “Then if someone says to you, ‘Look, here’s the Christ,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 22 False christs and false prophets will appear, and they will offer signs and wonders in order to deceive, if possible, those whom God has chosen. 23 But you, watch out! I’ve told you everything ahead of time. (Mark 13:9-23, CEB)

For all of those who say that following Jesus is an easy life have obviously never read this passage or any of the bible for that matter.

Jesus here says that it is going to be hard. Bad things are going to happen to us, but we have to stand firm in our faith and know that the promises are true and Jesus walks with us as we go.

Jesus never said life would be a stroll through a rose garden when we follow him. He did promise to be with us always.

Stand firm.

Loving People. Loving God.

confidence

32 But remember the earlier days, after you saw the light. You stood your ground while you were suffering from an enormous amount of pressure. 33 Sometimes you were exposed to insults and abuse in public. Other times you became partners with those who were treated that way. 34 You even showed sympathy toward people in prison and accepted the confiscation of your possessions with joy, since you knew that you had better and lasting possessions. 35 So don’t throw away your confidence—it brings a great reward. 36 You need to endure so that you can receive the promises after you do God’s will. 37 In a little while longer, the one who is coming will come and won’t delay; 38 but my righteous one will live by faith, and my whole being won’t be pleased with anyone who shrinks back. 39 But we aren’t the sort of people who timidly draw back and end up being destroyed. We’re the sort of people who have faith so that our whole beings are preserved. (Hebrews 10:32-39, CEB)

Faith is the belief in something we can not see or know for sure is there.

That is confidence in God.

Don’t loss the confidence you have in God. Trust the promises are true and live your life to shine that light in every moment.

Loving People. Loving God.