Daily Devotional
Living Harmoniously in God’s Promise
“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. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
July 20, 2023
Ponder This
Imagine you walk into a home where a father, a mother, and several children are red in the face. They’re calling each other names, kicking shins, and pulling hair. They’re having a family feud! And you ask, “Why are you, members of the same family, at one another’s throats?” They say, “Our beloved elder brother William has been away for many years. We received a telegram that says he’s coming home, and we’ve met to make plans for his homecoming. But we don’t agree on how he’s coming. Susie says he’s coming by car, Jim says he’s coming by train, and Dad says he’s coming by airplane. Mother says he’s bringing some friends with him, and others say he’s coming by himself. We don’t agree on the details, so, we’re fighting about it.” About that time, the door opens, and there stands William.
Does that remind you of anything? There are details about prophecy no one understands, but we know that our elder brother, the Lord Jesus, is coming, right? And when we have this hope in Him, we are to encourage one another and love one another. The closer we get to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the closer we ought to be to one another, and the more we ought to love one another. Our primary focus should not be how He’s coming but that He’s coming.
- What are some ways you are prone to be distracted with details about Jesus’ return and lose focus on the promise of His return?
- How should the promise of Jesus’ return lead us to greater unity?
Practice This
Take time today to reflect on Matthew 24:27-31 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and thank Jesus for the certainty of His 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.’”
