Looking for That Blessed Hope

Titus 2:11-15  For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach.

Titus 3:4-8  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

            Ever since childhood, one of my favorite hymns spoke of Christ’s return. It is found in older hymnals but sadly left out of the newer ones. I say “sadly” because this hymn in particular captures the fervent anticipation that each of us as Christians should hold dear. It is all too tempting in today’s worldly culture to adopt the thought of, “Well, I know he’s coming, but probably not anytime soon, so I really don’t have anything to worry about right now. Besides, it probably won’t happen in my lifetime anyway.”

            While it is true that no one knows the moment God will say, “Now!”;  and while it is true that God’s timing is his own; yet we are reminded often in scripture that Christ’s return will be sudden and unannounced. Until then, our job is two-fold: 1) Be ready. 2) Spread the Gospel so that others may be ready.

Looking for That Blessed Hope  (Thoro Harris)

            O shout aloud the tidings, Repeat the joyful strain; Let all the waiting nations This message hear again: The spotless Lamb of glory, Who once for man was slain, Soon o’er all the earth shall reign.

            Signs in the heav’n above us, In sun and moon and sky, Proclaim to all the faithful Redemption draweth nigh; The hearts of men are quaking And failing them for fear: Jesus’ coming draweth near.

            We’ll watch for his returning With lamps well trimm’d and bright; He cometh to the careless As thieves break thro’ the night; “Well done, thou good and faithful”—O may we hear the word, “Share the joy of Christ thy Lord.”

            Looking for that blessed hope, (that joyful hope), Looking for that blessed hope; (that glorious hope); We know the hour is nearing, The hour of his appearing: We’re looking for that blessed hope.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            We thank you for the promise of Blessed Hope—the return of Jesus Christ our Lord. We look for this Blessed Hope with joyful anticipation. Renew in us the resolve to be ready and the sense of urgency to guide others in being ready as well.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Looking for That Blessed Hope appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

The Choice is Yours

Malachi 3:18 …you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

Malachi 3:13-15  “You have spoken arrogantly against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’”

2 Peter 3:3-4  Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is the ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

            Throughout time there have been skeptics and scoffers. Not only this, but perhaps worse than blatant rebellion, there are those who “play church” as more of “fire insurance” but not really looking to change their lives nor honor or serve the LORD Almighty. There is a distinction between those who love the Lord and those who pretend. There is a difference and only God knows the heart and motive of each person (cf. 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 33:13-15; Psalm 139:1-4; Proverbs 16:2). The final day of judgment is coming and probably much sooner than we realize. At that time there will be no excuse valid enough to change the verdict. At that time no amount of begging nor pleading could be effective enough to reverse the situation.

Hosea 10:8 (also quoted in Luke 23:30) The high places of wickedness will be destroyed… Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!” and to the hills, “Fall on us!” 

2 Peter 3:10, 12  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief (e.g., suddenly, unannounced). The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare (i.e., some manuscripts “be burned up”). … That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.

Psalm 73:27  Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

            This is serious business! Time is far shorter than we might realize. We are given today, but we are never promised tomorrow nor even our next breath. The time to call out to our Lord is now. I urge you dear friends, do not delay.

Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

Hosea 13:4  You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.

Acts 2:21  And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Acts 4:12  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.

Romans 10:9-10  If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Your decision is final. The earth and all it’s wickedness and all that tarnishes and mars your good creation will be destroyed. All those who have not yet accepted your free offer of salvation through the sacrifice of your only begotten Son will be destroyed as well. Even now there are those who are procrastinating, many of whom are our family and friends, and we pray for them—that they might know your love is available to them—that they might call out to you. For ourselves, we pray that our hearts sincerely desire to follow you—to honor you in all that we think, in all that we say, in all that we do. Forgive us if we fall short of the plans you have for us and set us back on the right path.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional The Choice is Yours appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com

A Great Day

Malachi 3:16-18, 4:2-3  ¹⁶Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name. ¹⁷“On the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. ¹⁸And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. … ²But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. ³Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty.

            This passage from Malachi is one of my favorite passages because it is packed with so many details giving us hints and clues to the Lord’s soon-coming return. Perhaps the easiest way for me to share with you the thoughts from my heart will be a simple verse-by-verse list format:

¹⁶  those who feared the LORD talked with each other    Communication is so important among the fellowship of believers. One of the adversaries most powerful tools is to cause us to feel isolated believing that we are alone. And yet…

¹⁶  the LORD listened and heard    We are never alone. Our Heavenly Father, the Creator of life, cares deeply about his creation. He knows us each by name. He hears our prayers.

¹⁷  “On the day when I act,” says the LORD Almighty  Make no mistake, have no reservations or doubts, there is a Great Day coming. The Great Day of Salvation has already come. Christ was born, Christ suffered, Christ died, on the third day Christ was risen, he ascended into the heavens and now sits at the right hand of The Father. Christ will come again, but this time it will be the Great Day of Judgment.

¹⁷  they [those who feared the LORD, v.16] will be my treasured possession. I will spare them  Only those who have made the choice to accept Christ as Savior and follow the Lord will be accepted into the Kingdom of God. For the faithful, the Day will be full of joys and blessings. For all those who have not chosen the Lord, the Day will be dark and fearful indeed.

¹⁸  you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.  (More on this topic tomorrow.)

²  But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. This blessed Day will bring an end to all suffering, aches, pains, diseases, and maladies of every sort. God’s Kingdom will be free from sin and corruption and all that currently tarnishes his creation.

² you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves  On my very first trip to New Mexico, my Uncle took me to a stockyard and I still remember with fascination the sight of cattle jumping off from the cattle trucks or leaping from the cattle stalls into the larger pens. Those animals were full of energy and it helps me imagine in my mind the energy and freedom we will have when we enter our Heavenly Father’s Kingdom on that Great Day yet to come.

³  you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet There is a sad day coming for the wicked. The wicked will be no more. They will not exist. They are not still alive, burning for ever and ever. They are dead. No piece nor part of them remain. They are remembered no more. It is final.

            In following with this week’s theme of old familiar hymns, I will close with one written by Will L. Thompson (1847-1909):

There’s a Great Day Coming

            There’s a great day coming, A great day coming, There’s a great day coming by and by; When the saints and the sinners shall be parted right and left. Are you ready for that day to come?

            There’s a bright day coming, A bright day coming, There’s a bright day coming by and by; But the brightness shall only come to them that love the Lord. Are you ready for that day to come?

            There’s a sad day coming, A sad day coming, There’s a sad day coming by and by; When the sinner shall hear his doom, “Depart, I know ye not.” Are you ready for that day to come?

            Are you ready, Are you ready, Are you ready for the judgment day? Are you ready, Are you ready, Are you ready for the judgment day?

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you that you hear and listen to every prayer we make. Thank you for the promises of rich blessings to those who love you. We pray for those who have not yet made their decisions. In all things, may we be found ready for that Great Day to come.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional A Great Day appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com