Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 We believe in the Lord who will come again

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Vs 17 “After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever”.

Every believer in Jesus Christ has this glorious hope that one day Jesus is coming back, and we will be caught up in the air to meet Him. This was a promise He gave to His followers while He was in this world. All the prophecies in the Old Testament about the first coming of Jesus into the world were fulfilled. So, everything written about His second coming will also be fulfilled at the appointed time. We don’t know the exact date and time. About 2000 years ago, the Word became flesh and lived among us. He became an atoning sacrifice for the sins of His creation. Those who believe in Him will be saved. He will come again to receive those who are dedicated to Himself.
There are two parts to His second coming. In the first part, Jesus will come in the clouds and gather His bride, the church for the Lamb’s wedding. This is called the glorious appearance or rapture. The second part is when Jesus will literally come down and set His foot on the Mount of Olives. He will destroy His enemies and rule over the world for a thousand years from Jerusalem. This will be the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant.
In the church of Thessalonica, there was a sense of the imminent return of Christ and the believers were worried about the fate of their loved ones who were dead. Saint Paul wrote this letter to reassure them that the dead in Christ will rise first and then the believers alive will be transformed and join them to meet the Lord in the clouds. This is the core teaching of the New Testament Church. True believers are waiting for that glorious day.

Prayer
 Dear Lord, grant us the wisdom to prepare ourselves for your glorious coming. Amen
 
Thought for the day:
Jesus is coming soon. Are you ready?

Chacko Varughese , Epiphany MTC ,New York

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind who are evil by nature, give good gifts t
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tell a child as to why they’ve been a
Read more