Expectation

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13

Because of our Christmas plans, I am writing this week’s devotions early. I will be traveling with my daughter and her husband to visit my son and family. We have been looking forward to it for weeks and anticipating the pleasure of spending time with them. It will mean a full day of traveling there and another full day returning. By the time you are reading this, we will be back home.

Planning trips is always interesting, especially at this time of year as we do not know what the weather will be like. We choose clothing that will be suitable for different situations. We make lists of everything we think we will need for the journey and check them off as we pack our suitcases. We expectantly wait for the time of departure.

Although we do not know the day or hour that Jesus will return for His people, we do know that He will return. Could this be the year? Are we checking to make sure that we are ready? Are our spiritual suitcases packed?

Let us consider the following scriptures:

1Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Matthew 24:42-44 “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” 

Revelation 19:6-8 “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

Prayer: Jesus, as we consider everything that is going on in the world today, we feel confident that you are soon going to return for Your church. We do not know exactly when it will happen, but we desire to live every day in expectation, ready and watching for your return.

Devotion by Anne Johnston