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These Words

Devotionals9.14.22

Dear Faith Family, 

Therefore encourage one another with these words, (1 Thessalonians 4:18). 

The phone rang.  From overseas, the voice on the other end carried with it a slight tone of urgency.  As a summer missionary, she had been asked to teach a Bible Study.  Her question?  How do I do that?  She wasn’t quite sure what to say.  Ever been there?  Maybe someone asked you to speak?  You were honored until you realized that you had no idea what to say?! 

Well, here we are: 1 Thessalonians 4:18.  Paul tells us to encourage one another with these words.  What words?  How do we encourage (build one another up) one another?  What words do we offer each other that would help?  What words would be a source of comfort? 

How about these words:  Jesus is coming back?!  Now that’s encouraging.  That’s comforting.  But why?  Well, the return of Christ means stuff.  Right?  It carries with it a number of implications. 

It means that this world, as we know it, is going to end.  It means that the age tax has a paid-in-full date.  It means that inflation will end.  Wars will come to an end.  There will be an end to the very presence of sin and it’s consequences.  Temptation ends.  Suffering ends.  Separation ends.  Time and space will no longer separate the family of God. 

It means that our loved ones in Christ are not lost.  Jesus has each one of them in His care.  We will be together with them again, in Christ.  Consider that reunion for a moment.  Your loved one will be glorified, and you will be glorified.  Sin will not be present.  Can you begin to imagine what those relationships will look like?!  I think not. 

It means that we have something to look forward to.  Something to hope (confident expectation) for.  I have this thing about airports and family.  I like to be standing at the ramp when family members disembark.  What a thrill to be reunited with my family when they have been separated.  I often meet my wife in the garage when she returns home.  I’m just glad to be with her / with them. 

Fast forward to a time unknown.  You hear the trumpet.  You begin to float.  And then you see Him!  Jesus!  Face to face!  And He’s surrounded by believers that you know and love.  And then there’s the rest of the family of God.  Brothers and sisters in Christ.  You know.  Paul, Ruth, David, Peter, Lydia….  Well, you get the picture. 

One more?  It means that there will be an unending celebration!  We, Paul writes, will always be with the Lord.  No more “see ya laters”! 

Encouraged, 
Pastor Karl