Part of today's reading in Luke 17:1-37 talks about the second coming of Christ. It's always good for me to read scriptures on this because I find that I don't think about Christ's return and what that should mean for me enough. I get busy doing my life and tend to lose focus until I read a passage or maybe our pastor preaches on something to do with end times.
So after reading today, here are a couple of questions for you. What does being prepared for Christ's return look like in your life? Is there something that you could improve on or be more tuned into? If you're not sure, ask the Lord to show you an area. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this as it's something all of us (me included) should be thinking about more often. Tami W.
P.S. A few of us from Back to the Bible are traveling to Nashville today to attend the National Religious Broadcasters annual conference. We'll be there through the early part of next week. We'd sure appreciate your prayers for safe travel and for a fruitful conference.
"Live each and every day as if it were your last, as if the Lord is coming tomorrow" I heard this saying a long time ago, and find it is one of the greatest ways that you can live a christian life.
Tami, I have and will pray for you on your travels. I have also prayed for this ministry, I am finding it a valuable asset in my life and I hope and pray others will find it also.
I was reading an article by Billy Graham emphasizing the importance of the expectancy of Christ's return. It is something I have neglected. Thank you for reminding me of this important promise.
I think Bryan hit it right. But, at the end of the day, I look back and sometimes think..."wow. I'm glad the Lord didn't come today!" Each day I struggle, and each night I am thankful for the opportunity to try again. I know that at any time Jesus could come back "as a thief in the night." So what have I learned...pray each day. Fight each day. Win the day, and worry about tomorrow IF I wake up.
I hope you all have a great trip, and thank you very much for P4 and the accountability it brings me.
Hi Tami,
Thanks for your message today. I'm so anxious for Christ to return and take us to our permanent home. However, it was good for us to be reminded that there is work to be done. Thanks so much for your ministry. It helps me keep closer to God which helps me keep my sanity.
Carol
I've wondered about the part of the passage in verse 31...and in context, I feel that Jesus is telling us to just be ready but also to be encouraged by knowing that there are signs that tell us our Lord's soon appearing is near. Not the day nor the hour, but near. So take heart, keep living right and looking up!
Tami,
Please explain. I have always understood that the Second Coming was when Jesus returns to the Earth to set up His Millennial Kingdom...and His Church today (Believers/True followers of Jesus)are not a part of that because they have been Raptured. Those looking for His Second Coming are those that come to know Him during the Great Tribulation.
Hi everyone. I want you all to know, that my Father has passed away on Feb.2/09. We live in Canada MB. and the good Lord helpt us to Fly to Paraguay for 6 weeks, to visit my Mom, and my whole Familie.
On Monday the Feb. 2. my Father passed away, that Day my Husband and I, we were on our way to the Passport Office, when we got the news that he had passed away. Our plan was to Fly out there somewhere in beginning of March, but we were able to Fly on Feb. 3. at 7am. We only new that we would Fly next Day, was at 3pm, on Feb. 2. So we packed up that evening, we as a whole Familie went. Right now, we are in Paraguay.
Thanks for all your Prayers.
Praise God
Hi Susanna,
Instead of making it up to my mom's funeral, I ended up having my health take a bad turn, so we ended up missing it. I'm glad to hear that things turned out a little better for you and your's, because at first, missing my mothers funeral was pretty devistating. Then we realized that having to cancel the trip to go to the hospital was much better than ending up going to the funeral and being taken away in an ambulance (or dying) right in the middle of the proceedings. As odd as it may sound, I think we were actually blessed when we were forced to miss mom's funeral.
I don't know how any of us could get through times like this without help from the Lord, and that help doesn't always come in the form we expect, but the Lord always knows what's best for us.
I'll also be starting my staging four days earlier now, and that might end up being important too. Praise the Lord in all things.
Charles
Toni,
Tami asked me to respond to your question since she is out of town at the National Religious Broadcasters convention this week.
The Bible actually never uses the words "Second Coming." This is a term that has been coined by theologians to refer to Christ's return to establish His kingdom. Luke 17:20-37 is talking about this Second Coming. Jesus says in verse 30: "so it will be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed." Keep in mind, however, Jesus is speaking to a Jewish audience whose experience of the end times (unless they accept Christ) will be different than ours.
But by application, we can also take the lessons from this second coming (note the small letters as used in the blog—this is not a reference to the theological term) to our own second coming experience which is called the Rapture. For the Christian, the second coming of Christ which we need to be ready for is the Rapture. For the rest of the world, the second coming of Christ is what theologians call the Second Coming.
Allen, Biblical Correspondent at Back to the Bible
Allen,
Thank you! That makes perfect sense to me! All Scripture is FOR us, but not all Scripture is TO us.