no one knows

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2  Now brothers about times and dates, we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

I have no fear of 12/21/12 being the end of the world.

I know with certainty I will awaken 12/22/12 and the world will still be here.

Jesus said no one but the father knows when the end is coming.

Matthew 24: 36.  But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

One thing I know about Jesus is he always keeps his word and promises and his words are true, to be believed.

if he says no one knows but Father God, I believe that to be true.

In saying that, every day we should be prepared that it could be the day Jesus returns and in saying that, we need to always remember the great commission Jesus gave to us, to go out and tell others about him.

Matthew 28:18-20  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The world needs to hear the saving message of hope and love that only comes from Jesus.

clothe

Colossians 3:12 Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

God chose me

I belong to him

I am holy - set apart

I am dearly loved - unconditionally, completely loved

Knowing this

How should I live?

I should clothe myself

dress myself, cover myself

with

compassion - mercy, sympathy, empathy

kindness - showing sympathy and understanding

humility - without pride, without arrogance

gentleness - kind, mild mannered

patient - enduring, hopeful forbearance

This is how I should live because I am secure with who I am in my Father's eyes . I should model Jesus in how I live.

I need to clothe myself with Jesus, his word, his love as I live in this world.

Help me to do so Lord!

deposit

2 Corinthians 1:21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.  He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us and put his spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

This is such a wonderful promise of the faithfulness of God and how he works in our lives.

He makes us:

Stand firm in Christ - we know exactly who we are in God's eyes because of what Jesus did on the cross.  We are beloved sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty.  We are co-heirs - we share with Jesus the blessings and rewards promised by God, the most important of which is external life with Jesus!

He anointed us - set a seal of ownership on us - NO ONE can snatch us away from God.  He holds us securely in his hand.  We belong exclusively to him.  He has sealed us with the blood of Christ shed for our sins.

Put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit - he promised and sent to us his Holy Spirit.  Our comforter, our guide, directing our paths and thoughts as we allow him to work in our lives.  We are not alone.  We are not left to flounder.  The very God of all creation dwells in us; not forsaking us, not abandoning us, but guiding us, leading us, comforting us, restoring us, loving us.

He has guaranteed what is to come - eternal, everlasting life with Jesus. Eternity spent with God.  We are free of condemnation, free of wrath.  A banquet is being prepared for us.  A mansion is being prepared for us.  We  have hope, not despair.

He is to be believed and trusted.  He will do all that he says in his perfect timing and will.

I take great comfort in this wonderful promise from you Lord. Thank you!

we need rescuing

Galatians 1:3-4

Grace and peace to you from God our father and Lord Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins, to rescue us from the present evil age according to the will of our God and father.

It was a present evil age 2000 years ago when Jesus was born and it remained a present evil age after his death.

The difference was his death and resurrection gave us hope.  Gave us victory over sin, victory over death.  Gave us freedom from God's wrath and condemnation because of our sins.

He rescued us from this dark world.

Does it mean we are immune to tragedy?

Does it mean our lives with be rosy?

That our every desire met?

That we will never suffer pain, illness, tragedy, death of love ones?

NO!

But it means we have hope that this is not all there is.

We have hope that God is exactly who he says he is.

That he can be trusted and believed.

That he does not forsake or abandon us.

That he walks with us through our hard times.

That we have eternal life with Jesus!!

NOTHING can take us away from him.

NO ONE can snatch us out of his hands.

Our world is broken, flawed, full of evil and sin.

But Jesus rescued us when he gave himself up for us and our sins.

I am glad he was willing to rescue me.  I am glad he knew I needed to be rescued.

I am thankful that I realized I needed his rescuing through the work of the Holy Spirit in me.

Help me Lord to tell others that they too need your rescuing.