"The Signs That We Can See"
Apr 18, 2020 22:03:52 GMT -6
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mike, socalexile, and 6 more like this
Post by sawdy on Apr 18, 2020 22:03:52 GMT -6
The following is a post that I wrote earlier today for the "Our Story" section of my church's Facebook page as well as shared it to my church congregation via email. I didn't know what I was going to write when I started and this is what happened. Definitely not what I planned on writing but I do find that the encouragement I was trying to convey was granted via scripture and the holy spirit. I decided I would post it here as it may be an encouragement to someone else outside of the few that attend my church. It is very early spring where I live.
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"The Signs That We Can See"
It looks like spring might have finally arrived. This morning was a beautiful morning, a cloudless deep blue was overhead and the morning air was perfectly crisp, so we decided to go for a walk.
My two children, and I, along with our dog, enjoyed our walk. We saw a couple of Canadian Geese fly overhead and discussed how that the geese are a sign of spring. Three quarters of the way on our walk, we stopped briefly where the registered ditch runs under the road in a large culvert. Today was the first day that we could visibly see and audibly hear the water running in the registered ditch by our home. We stopped and listened to this sign of spring.
This afternoon, I was thinking of the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus. The disciples were walking and discussing everything that had just taken place and seemed to be rather depressed about everything. They knew about the vision of Angels that said that Jesus was alive, but they weren’t rejoicing about it. Luke 24:25- “He (Jesus) said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”
We know that spring will arrive, but unless we stop and notice the signs, we don’t seem to be positive about its arrival. Instead, we lament about the never-ending winter. Likewise, as Christians we know that Jesus will return. Once scripture that I hear quoted regularly is 1 Thessalonians 5:2 “For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night”, however I rarely hear one of its following verse quoted alongside it, which in a way, appears to contradict what is stated in verse 2. Verse 4- “But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.” We are to be prepared and to be watching and waiting for His return. The day is only to surprise those who are in darkness. Continuing on in the passage provides us with some excellent tips for living in these times of Covid-19. Are we to be watching during these times for Jesus to soon be returning? The Bible has given us many signs to watch for regarding Jesus return.
“You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like the others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5-11
The world around us is sleeping and drinking. Many don’t have much to do at this time and so that is what they turn to. But we have received other instructions that are relevant to these times.
Let us be alert: We need to be watching for signs of His return. We need to be watching as the world is finding new ways to prevent Christians from congregating. It would be nice to think that after this, we will be able to meet as we used to. There will be changes and calls from the people to prevent mass gatherings. Will the brick and mortar church be affected in the coming year?
Let us have self-control: Let us resist temptation and avoid conforming to this world. Now is an excellent time to spend time in prayer and in daily devotions and scripture reading.
Let us have faith and love as a breastplate: Our hearts need to be filled with faith and with love. Today I was polishing my Husband's silver baby cup. I like to think of our breastplate as being like shiny silver, that it shines outwardly the faith and love that it is made of. Likewise, it bounces the fear and hate away because of its mirror-like finish.
Let us have the hope of salvation as a helmet: Our helmet protects our head. We need to keep our hope of salvation on our minds as we know God did not appoint us to suffer wrath. In this time of seeking fellowship online, we need to be wary of the wolves that are masquerading as sheep. Many will mix some requirement of works into their teachings. We need to remember and to teach others what is said in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by Grace you have been saved, though faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” Our salvation is only found though Jesus Christ. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 Works are not required for our salvation. We need to protect ourselves from those who look to put those thought in our heads.
Let us encourage one another: Letters, emails, Facebook messages or posts and phone calls can all help in encouraging those outside our homes. How do we encourage those inside our homes? We can encourage those inside our homes by taking time to listen and to talk. We can be truthful in answering questions asked of us. If we are not feeling “good”, we need to be honest. We can maintain a daily family schedule that sets aside time for family devotions or quiet time with God. We need to encourage spending time with God for ourselves and our family members. We need to learn to seek God as we live daily with uncertainty regarding the future. We need to praise and recognize positive behaviors.
Let us build each other up: We can rest in our faith of our salvation but are there others in your home or among your friends or family that don’t? Let us take time to share a message, write a note or to share our testimonies with those around us. We also need to spread our faith and our love to those who might be faltering in their walk. We can gently encourage those who might be swayed into worrying about completing works for salvation. Let us plant seeds this spring so that when the time is right, we can water and nurture those seeds with the ABC’s of salvation.
Just like the signs of spring that I saw this morning, we can watch for the signs of Jesus’s return. As we watch, let us not forget those around us that may not share in the blessed hope of salvation that we have. Let us continue as we have been doing to pray, to encourage and to build each other us as we wait until we can meet again, whether it is in our Sanctuary in our church or whether it is in the clouds. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
-----
"The Signs That We Can See"
It looks like spring might have finally arrived. This morning was a beautiful morning, a cloudless deep blue was overhead and the morning air was perfectly crisp, so we decided to go for a walk.
My two children, and I, along with our dog, enjoyed our walk. We saw a couple of Canadian Geese fly overhead and discussed how that the geese are a sign of spring. Three quarters of the way on our walk, we stopped briefly where the registered ditch runs under the road in a large culvert. Today was the first day that we could visibly see and audibly hear the water running in the registered ditch by our home. We stopped and listened to this sign of spring.
This afternoon, I was thinking of the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus. The disciples were walking and discussing everything that had just taken place and seemed to be rather depressed about everything. They knew about the vision of Angels that said that Jesus was alive, but they weren’t rejoicing about it. Luke 24:25- “He (Jesus) said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!”
We know that spring will arrive, but unless we stop and notice the signs, we don’t seem to be positive about its arrival. Instead, we lament about the never-ending winter. Likewise, as Christians we know that Jesus will return. Once scripture that I hear quoted regularly is 1 Thessalonians 5:2 “For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night”, however I rarely hear one of its following verse quoted alongside it, which in a way, appears to contradict what is stated in verse 2. Verse 4- “But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.” We are to be prepared and to be watching and waiting for His return. The day is only to surprise those who are in darkness. Continuing on in the passage provides us with some excellent tips for living in these times of Covid-19. Are we to be watching during these times for Jesus to soon be returning? The Bible has given us many signs to watch for regarding Jesus return.
“You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like the others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5-11
The world around us is sleeping and drinking. Many don’t have much to do at this time and so that is what they turn to. But we have received other instructions that are relevant to these times.
Let us be alert: We need to be watching for signs of His return. We need to be watching as the world is finding new ways to prevent Christians from congregating. It would be nice to think that after this, we will be able to meet as we used to. There will be changes and calls from the people to prevent mass gatherings. Will the brick and mortar church be affected in the coming year?
Let us have self-control: Let us resist temptation and avoid conforming to this world. Now is an excellent time to spend time in prayer and in daily devotions and scripture reading.
Let us have faith and love as a breastplate: Our hearts need to be filled with faith and with love. Today I was polishing my Husband's silver baby cup. I like to think of our breastplate as being like shiny silver, that it shines outwardly the faith and love that it is made of. Likewise, it bounces the fear and hate away because of its mirror-like finish.
Let us have the hope of salvation as a helmet: Our helmet protects our head. We need to keep our hope of salvation on our minds as we know God did not appoint us to suffer wrath. In this time of seeking fellowship online, we need to be wary of the wolves that are masquerading as sheep. Many will mix some requirement of works into their teachings. We need to remember and to teach others what is said in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by Grace you have been saved, though faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” Our salvation is only found though Jesus Christ. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 Works are not required for our salvation. We need to protect ourselves from those who look to put those thought in our heads.
Let us encourage one another: Letters, emails, Facebook messages or posts and phone calls can all help in encouraging those outside our homes. How do we encourage those inside our homes? We can encourage those inside our homes by taking time to listen and to talk. We can be truthful in answering questions asked of us. If we are not feeling “good”, we need to be honest. We can maintain a daily family schedule that sets aside time for family devotions or quiet time with God. We need to encourage spending time with God for ourselves and our family members. We need to learn to seek God as we live daily with uncertainty regarding the future. We need to praise and recognize positive behaviors.
Let us build each other up: We can rest in our faith of our salvation but are there others in your home or among your friends or family that don’t? Let us take time to share a message, write a note or to share our testimonies with those around us. We also need to spread our faith and our love to those who might be faltering in their walk. We can gently encourage those who might be swayed into worrying about completing works for salvation. Let us plant seeds this spring so that when the time is right, we can water and nurture those seeds with the ABC’s of salvation.
Just like the signs of spring that I saw this morning, we can watch for the signs of Jesus’s return. As we watch, let us not forget those around us that may not share in the blessed hope of salvation that we have. Let us continue as we have been doing to pray, to encourage and to build each other us as we wait until we can meet again, whether it is in our Sanctuary in our church or whether it is in the clouds. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)