I love watching the weather. I check out the Weather Channel online two or three times a day (just in case, you know!). I am always amazed at all the science that goes into understanding how the wind moves weather systems from there to here and beyond. I’ll often look at the clouds and wonder what kind of weather they might be bringing.
In Matthew 16 Jesus confronted the Pharisees and Sadducees when they were testing Him saying, they could read the weather, but they could not interpret the sign of the times. (As we used to say, “Red at night, sailor’s delight. Red in the morning, sailor, take warning!”) In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, also speaks of times and seasons, complementing these followers of Christ, because they do recognize what is happening in the world around them.
The End, the Day of the Lord, is coming. Many will be surprised that day, and they will grieve. It will be a day of shock and judgment, for they believed that this world was all there was and this was all they had ever lived for. The Day snuck up on them like a thief in the night.
Yet, we who are in Christ are in the light. In fact, Paul says that we are children of light and children of day. He calls us to be awake and self-controlled.
How do we do that?
Put on the breast plate of faith and love. Embrace who God made you to be. “I am a follower of Jesus Christ!” He has created faith in you to take hold of His promises of forgiveness and life. That faith protects your heart like a breast plate from the temptations of the world – especially the temptation to give up hope.
That faith also moves us to act in love. However, love is more than being nice. Love is God’s essence that seeks the best in and for others. Love is our outward response to God’s love and our confession of what we believe. Showing kindness can be an expression of our faith. Lovingly holding someone accountable can be, too. When our motivation flows from faith, our heart is guided by the Holy Spirit. And what matters most is what (or Who!) is in our heart.
Besides protecting our hearts, God also provides protection for our minds with the helmet of the hope of salvation. In everything, we always return to the hope that God loved us out of eternity so much that he not only made us, but He saved us through Jesus’ death and resurrection after we had rebelled against Him in our sin. Keeping our thoughts focused there will help us to not give up hope, no matter how bad things get in this world. For if Jesus loves us enough to die in our place, how could God ever intended that our destiny be destruction? No, his desire is that we would be saved in Jesus so that whether we live or die we will be with the Lord.
Keep your eyes open, and watch the horizon. Jesus is coming again! In the meantime, be alert, live in faith and love, and always have hope in your salvation.
God, give me peace and make me holy. Keep me – my spirit, soul, and body – blameless so that at Jesus’ coming I will be able to welcome him with joy. You are faithful. I know you will see me through. Thank you, Father. Amen.
In Matthew 16 Jesus confronted the Pharisees and Sadducees when they were testing Him saying, they could read the weather, but they could not interpret the sign of the times. (As we used to say, “Red at night, sailor’s delight. Red in the morning, sailor, take warning!”) In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, also speaks of times and seasons, complementing these followers of Christ, because they do recognize what is happening in the world around them.
The End, the Day of the Lord, is coming. Many will be surprised that day, and they will grieve. It will be a day of shock and judgment, for they believed that this world was all there was and this was all they had ever lived for. The Day snuck up on them like a thief in the night.
Yet, we who are in Christ are in the light. In fact, Paul says that we are children of light and children of day. He calls us to be awake and self-controlled.
How do we do that?
Put on the breast plate of faith and love. Embrace who God made you to be. “I am a follower of Jesus Christ!” He has created faith in you to take hold of His promises of forgiveness and life. That faith protects your heart like a breast plate from the temptations of the world – especially the temptation to give up hope.
That faith also moves us to act in love. However, love is more than being nice. Love is God’s essence that seeks the best in and for others. Love is our outward response to God’s love and our confession of what we believe. Showing kindness can be an expression of our faith. Lovingly holding someone accountable can be, too. When our motivation flows from faith, our heart is guided by the Holy Spirit. And what matters most is what (or Who!) is in our heart.
Besides protecting our hearts, God also provides protection for our minds with the helmet of the hope of salvation. In everything, we always return to the hope that God loved us out of eternity so much that he not only made us, but He saved us through Jesus’ death and resurrection after we had rebelled against Him in our sin. Keeping our thoughts focused there will help us to not give up hope, no matter how bad things get in this world. For if Jesus loves us enough to die in our place, how could God ever intended that our destiny be destruction? No, his desire is that we would be saved in Jesus so that whether we live or die we will be with the Lord.
Keep your eyes open, and watch the horizon. Jesus is coming again! In the meantime, be alert, live in faith and love, and always have hope in your salvation.
God, give me peace and make me holy. Keep me – my spirit, soul, and body – blameless so that at Jesus’ coming I will be able to welcome him with joy. You are faithful. I know you will see me through. Thank you, Father. Amen.
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