"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us (among many other things) that...we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ...." (Titus 2)
The news today is full of the Challenger disaster. The news every day is full of something which reminds us of the absolute frailty of human existence. I used to tell our children to never let their last words to someone be unkind words. I remember my Dad told me of an incident when he was a young pastor. A newly married couple had a fight just before the man left for work. The wife's last words to him were, "I hope I never see you again." She didn't. He was killed in an head-on accident. She never regained her sanity.
Every quarter I come to today's text I read it with the freshness of the first time's reading. It is one in a long list of Bible passages which affirms the Theology of the "Second Coming," referred to here as, "the blessed hope...." As I stood at the grave of our oldest son, it was only Our Father, in His indwelling presence in Jesus Christ by the hallowed presence of His Blessed Majesty, the Holy Spirit, Who sustained me, and sustains me to this very moment------- "Blessed Hope"!!
Every day is an expecting day for the Follower of Jesus Christ, one who accepts the Bible as, "the words of God," a day, "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." Today I greatly encourage you as one of the, "Special People," keep, "looking for the...glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ," while you continue to in your zealousness, "for good works." Courage, weary pilgrim, the Day is fast approaching.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I pray that you sustain all today who have lost loved ones. Thank You so much for Your moment by moment sustenance. Amen.
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* Will be sending updated news later today at: www.apf327.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
