Daily Devotional
Are You Anticipating Jesus’ Return?
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
December 27, 2021
Ponder This
I preached a funeral a while back. A man in our church died; he was a dear and beloved man. I sat there. I saw all those flowers. I saw the children. I saw the grandchildren. I watched that sweet widow who lived with that man for so long, and they had both come up to a full, ripe age. These folks had lived together for more than fifty years. I watched her as she just put her hand on his coat sleeve, gave it a little tug, and then turned and walked away.
And I thought, “How terrible it must be to be an atheist.” This woman wasn’t; she was a true believer. But what do atheists do in times like that? Is this all it is? Are we just going to get sick and die and go into the ground and that’s it? No! Jesus is coming again. His first coming without the Second Coming would be like an engagement without a wedding. No, He is coming again, and I thank God for that.
- How are you comforted by the promise of Jesus’s Second Coming?
- How do you need to refocus your mind on this promise today?
Practice This
Take time today to encourage someone you know who is struggling, with the reminder of Jesus’s promised return.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
