Tag: Christ's Return

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Firm Foundation, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study

He’s Coming Again

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based on the LGG study, Firm Foundation w3d5

Scripture and Observation

Read/SOAP: Isaiah 25:8-9 and Revelation 1:7

He will swallow up death forever!
    The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears.
He will remove forever all insults and mockery
    against his land and people.
    The Lord has spoken!

9 In that day the people will proclaim,
“This is our God!
    We trusted in him, and he saved us!
This is the Lord, in whom we trusted.
    Let us rejoice in the salvation he brings!”

Isaiah 25:8-9

I find Isaiah’s words to be dramatically beautiful. However, they led me to search for some commentaries as I wanted to make sure that I understood all the references, such as “He” and “Sovereign Lord.” When I checked out bibleref.com, I found another treasure of words to explain the words of Isaiah. The author writes:

This passage portrays an amazing moment of ultimate grace performed by the King Messiah. This moment occurs at the banquet which launches the Lord’s reign over all the earth. On Mount Zion, Isaiah describes the Lord as “swallowing up death,” the shroud that has been cast over all people since Adam sinned for the first time (Isaiah 25:6–7; Genesis 3:19).

Bible ref.com/Isa 25:8

I particularly love knowing that Jesus, “the King Messiah,” in an act of “ultimate grace,” swallows up death!” Friends, Jesus is coming again, which means death will not have the final say! Sickness, sadness, hurt, and sorrows will no longer be a part of our lives, for “All will be made new and right as we live in God’s perfect kingdom.1“

The LGG Journal entry for today, p 109, describes the Second Coming of Christ as a “beacon of hope for believers, lighting the way through the trials and tribulations of this world.” Isaiah’s prophecy points us to a time when we will forever be with our Savior. Surely, this is something we should wait for and look forward to with excitement and ‘readiness,’ not just to the kingdom Christ will establish but to be with Jesus, our Savior, “King Messiah.”

Living it Out: Application of our Journey

The foundation of our faith should be firmly rooted in the glorious truth that Jesus is coming again!🦋

Actually, the LGG Journal suggests that “Anticipating Christ’s return should influence our daily lives. Every moment carries eternal significance.” Why/how? Because “Our prayers, kingdom work, and evangelism are integral to God’s plan for that glorious day. As we yearn for His return, our actions and faithfulness are crucial in developing our perseverance until His coming.2“

Reflection for the Journey

Is your hope firmly rooted in the certainty of Jesus’ return?

Prayer for the Journey (inspired by today’s journal entry)

Jesus, thank You for your promise to return for us and to swallow up death!, Thank You for the hope of the new Kingdom, where sorrow and sickness will be no more and tears will be wiped away. Help us to be ready and eagerly anticipating that wonderful day! May we make every moment count for Your kingdom. As we wait, Lord, strengthen our faith and fill us with hope. – All of this for Your glory and our good –

  1. LGG Journal, Firm Foundation, p109 ↩︎
  2. LGG Journal, Firm Foundation, p109 ↩︎
The More We Know about the Journey

For more insight, be sure to check out today’s LGG Blog

Posted in Bible study, Enduring Hope, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

When Hope Is No Hope At All

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Based on the LGG Study, Enduring Hope, w3d1

Today’s Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-28 / SOAP verses 16-19

And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.  In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

1 Corinthians 15:16-19

The Gospel Paul preached was: Christ crucified, dead and buried, and raised from the dead. It is this Gospel that has the power to save (Romans 1:16) – and it is through our faith in Jesus, the focus of the Gospel that God’s grace has saved us! (Ephesians 2:8) However, if Christ really hasn’t been resurrected, as some were suggesting in Paul’s day, and some still doubt today – then Paul’s preaching was a waste of time and our faith is worthless.

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty

1 Corinthians 15:14

The bottom line is that we either believe in life after death or we don’t. For if Christ was not resurrected then no one else will be, and we are without HOPE. This means:

To place our hope in this life – is to have no hope at all!

Response to God’s Word

Father, I believe Your Word and I stand firm in the faith of the Gospel message that Christ Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried – and that on the third day he rose from the grave! I believe that after revealing Himself, in His resurrected body, to His disciples – for a period of days – He then ascended into Heaven where He is now seated at Your right hand – where, among other things, He intercedes for us in accordance with Your will. I believe that He will one day return to claim His bride, the church, that we might forever live with You! In this is my hope and strength for each new day – without this there is no hope at all. Let us not become cynical in this world of chaos and hopelessness but rather help us to stand firm in Your truth and to be lights and voices of the promised Hope of Jesus’ return and the promise of eternity with You – and this that others might come to share in our HOPE – In the name of Jesus I pray – Amen and Amen!

song of Worship

Going Deeper

Don’t forget you can get more out of today’s passage by reading the Love God Greatly Blog Post

Posted in Bible study, Come, Lord Jesus, Come, LGG Study

Scoffers Will Come

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Today’s Reading: 2 Peter 3:1-13; (SOAP: verses 3-4)

knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

2 Peter 3:3-4 ESV

Putting It In Perspective:

To put these verses in perspective, according to the Cambridge English Dictionary a scoffer is someone who laughs and speaks about a person or idea in a way that shows that they think that person or idea is stupid or silly. This is important for us to understand as we prepare our minds and hearts for the last days.

Scripture paints a vivid picture of how the disciples and apostles carried on the work of Christ after He ascended into heaven. It also gives details of how they were persecuted, challenged with questions, arrested, and stoned to death because of their beliefs and the message they shared. Without question they were made to feel stupid and silly for the message they preached and the beliefs they professed but they continued to deliver the message with great conviction. Likewise, there will be those today who make us doubt our beliefs, perhaps leaving us feeling stupid or silly for what we profess but we must hold tight to the TRUTH and continue to make it known as we wait for His return.

We must hold tight to the truth and continue to make it known as we wait with Hope for His return.

Response to the Word:

Father, keep me alert to the scoffers and ready to share the truth and please overwhelm any seeds of doubt the scoffers plant. Remind me often of Your promises and help me to wait with hope and confidence, faithfully spreading the message and encouraging others to hold on to the hope we have been given in Christ. It is so tempting to pray “come quickly Lord Jesus but I am reminded of those who have not yet believed and my prayer is changed to – thanking You for the strength You give us as we wait and for Your mercy that is not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. – In Jesus’ Name – Amen

Your Turn:

Reflection
  • What should our response be to the scoffers and naysayers in our lives?
  • What do you think is the best way to love them?
Want More?

Don’t forget to check out today’s blog post by the Love God Greatly Team @ https://lovegodgreatly.com/lgg-blog/