BOY SCOUTS AND GODLINESS / Titus 2:13-14

"While we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing 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." Titus 2:13-14

My youngest son is in Scouting and he just transitioned from a Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. He had to learn the Scout Oath and Law. We had a Court of Honor meeting last night and our troop does a potluck. As we were getting in the car my son held the door open for his sister to get in first. That does not always happen. But, going to the scout meeting reminded him to act like a scout. I think that is kind of like us and the second coming of Christ. Realizing that Christ is coming should give us extra motivation to good. 

I think I should be eager to do what is good naturally. Unfortunately we do have a sinful nature that seeks self gratification without thought of the consequences.  It is worse than eating something that you know will give you heartburn later. It is worse because sin sometimes leaves a scar or a hook. But, doing what is godly, living a life of love in faith, never leaves a scar and doesn't hook you but frees you. When we do what is good, which is love as Christ loved us, we will reap the fruit of righteousness. 

Here's the to do: Be good to other people. How will you be good to your spouse today? Your kids? Your fellow workers or employees? Love as Christ has loved you...

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for your love toward us. Thank you for your forgiveness, patience, grace and mercy. Your faithfulness is amazing! Help us to love as you have loved us! Praise be to you in us today!

GOT HOPE / Titus 2:13

"While we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13

Well, it's Friday. Thank God it's Friday! That is a sentiment echoed by many people every Friday. Maybe it has been a very stressful week, or you just looking forward to being with people or a person who you really enjoy being with. 

Waiting for our Savior's return is that to the nth degree! In Revelation 7:14 and 21:4 we are told that God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. Have you ever been in that place where you just know God is in control and everything is going to work out for the best and all is well? That is eternity with Christ...

When our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes again he will come in victory. He will fight the final battle and destroy the enemy. Whatever is against us now will be forever defeated. Yes, in this world we will have tribulation. But, when Christ comes again, all that is against us, every power and every accusation, will be destroyed by the power of his word!

Lord, give us hope and help us to see the hope we have in you. Praise be to you in us today!

THE LORD WILL RESCUE YOU!: II Timothy 4:18

"The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring  me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." II Timothy 4:22

If you seek to follow Christ and do what is right, you will be opposed. There is an enemy in this world that seeks to use anything and everything to oppose all who seek to live a godly life.  The good news is that greater is he that is in me than be that is in the world! Paul knew that no matter what he went through, the Lord would rescue him in the end. Not only that he knew that God would bring him safely home. 

The good news is not that you will never be attacked, it is that you will be attacked but, in Christ, you will be rescued. 

Father, thank you that you will rescue me and bring me home to your heavenly kingdom! Praise be to you in us today and all eternity!

YOU ARE AWARDED THE...: II Timothy 4:8

"Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the  Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 
II Timothy 4:8

My youngest son has been in Scouts since first grade. He just bridged over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. He received the Arrow of Light award, which is the only patch that you can carry over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts. So, now he starts his quest for Eagle Scout. One of the cool things about scouts is that along the way they earn patches and belt loops (Cubs) and then merit badges (Scouts). There are rewards. Paul knew there was a reward, the crown of righteousness awaiting him. There is one awaiting you and me too. 

Have you ever wished that Jesus could just be there at that moment? Have you ever just wished he would come today? I don't know how you could possibly come to Christ in any meaningful way and not wish to see him face to face. The Spirit of God just calls you. When you are church, singing, worshiping, listening to the teaching and serving, isn't that simply the manifestation of your desire to know Christ? It should be.

Hopefully you understand that when Paul says, "and not only me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" he means you and I! We have a crown of righteousness awaiting us! Don't give up! Keep pressing on! God is faithful. He will accomplish though you what he wants to do. 

Father, thank you for your mercy and grace to not only save me but us me by any measure. Praise be to you in us today!

HE WILL COME: II Thessalonians 2:1-2

"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together with him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come." II Thessalonians 2:1-2

As a Christian I grew up involved with a church I still love and appreciate and that has a strong connection with end times prophecy.  At the beginning of every new year the leader of group of churches would give an end times update and he would go over all the Biblical prophecies that were fulfilled or seemed very close to being fulfilled. Then he'd say, "The Bible says that no man knows the hour but, I just can't see how the Lord won't come back this year." Some people naturally went to far with his back-hand prediction. 

The truth is our Lord Jesus Christ is coming again, sometime. It could be very soon. I honestly, can't believe he has been as patient as he has been. Patient with me. Patient with our country. Patient with a lot of people I know and to me that is the bottom line. If Christ has not come back, it is because there are people he is still patiently giving an opportunity to come to know him as Savior and Lord. 

What are we to be doing? I think we are to be acting in faith. The question is who has God put before you? Be ready to give an answer for your faith and when the time comes, give it in love.

Father, open our eyes to see who you have put in our paths. Use us in your kingdom. Praise be to you in us today!

GOD HIMSELF WILL: I Thessalonians 5:23-24

I once worked for a Mimi's Cafe as a food server then a manager. We encountered a situation once that even our very competent  general manager was concerned about. The owner stopped by, told us what to do and how Mimi's dealt with those things and that was that. The owner himself. At the end of I Thessalonians Paul tells us that "God himself" will do the work he needs to do in our lives. 

"May God himself, the God of peace,  sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." I Thessalonians 5:23-24

First and foremost, it is God himself who is sanctifying us. It is God himself who is keeping us blameless until Christ comes again.

Remember, God called you. In your sins. Since he sent his Son to die for you, he will keep you. In a way, it is sort of like an investment. If you saved and sacrificed to buy a home for your family you wouldn't just abandon it. God, purchased you with the blood of his Son. He is faithful and he will keep us. 

Father, help us to rest is your faithfulness and the truth that your are faithful! Praise be to you in us today!

DON'T BE SURPRISED, LIVE IN THE LIGHT!: I Thessalonians 5:4-6

If you are a parent, then, like me, I am sure you have told you children as they headed off to be with their friends, "Remember who's child you are. I don't care what everyone else is doing, you do what you know is right!" And where did we hear that? From our parents. As Christians we are to remember to whom we belong as we live our lives in this world. 

"But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us be not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled." I Thessalonians 5:4-6

Paul is speaking to the Thessalonians about the day of the Lord and how they live their lives knowing that he could return at any time. He reminds them who they are in Christ.

First, Paul reminds us that we are not in darkness. We know Christ is coming back and we should not be surprised if he came in one minute or one year. 

Secondly, because we are children of the light we should not act like people who don't know who God is. Sometimes we think too much. The Bible is pretty clear about most things. I had someone pretty close to me tell me that the people could translate the Bible any way the wanted. I asked him, "How do you translate, "You shall not steal, you shall not commit adultery, you shall have no other gods before me"? God has spoken to us pretty clearly. We are not in the dark about what God has done for us or what he wants to do in us. We just need to live in light of that truth. 

Lastly, we need to remember to be alert and self-controlled. We need to be alert to what is "trending" in and around our lives. Not just physically and financially, but the spiritual battles that are the primary influences of our lives. Think about that. There is a spiritual battle for you and your family. The cares of this life are just bit players. We must attend to them with integrity and yet remember that life is more than what the world tells us. 

So, pay attention. Be alert and be self-controlled in Christ.

Father, help us to live like children of the light and of the day, your children. Praise be to you in us today!