1 Thessalonians 4 - The Bucketlist
We are so pleased when our kids do well. When they get older it is a blessing to see them mature, make good decisions, and especially when you see them follow and trust God.
The One True God wants us, His kids, to live in a way that pleases Him. God’s always had a plan. A good plan. God loves relationships. It is part of His character. It is togetherness and unity. Brotherhood. Sisterhood. The family of God. In this chapter, we glimpse this aspect of God’s character - His deep love for His children. When Jesus returns to earth He will bring his family with Him. His kids, from every generation. The family of God.
Cherish your family this Christmas season. Be kind. Plan good gifts. And good food. Give your time, your ear, and your resources. Life is short. But eternal life - that’s our hope in Christ.
To accept God means living well within His rules and ways. You can’t read the Gospels without hearing this clearly from Jesus. Yes God is loving and kind. But God is no fool. He has high expectations for those called by His name. Of primary concern is that we love one another. Truly love. Think of others' interests ahead of our own.
The Christian bucket list is short: live a quiet life (humility and contentment and determination to serve God single-mindedly), mind my own business (please God in thought and deed), work with my hands (God loves when His kids work hard and pray hard), and follow the Holy Spirt in everything so that we may stand before God when He returns, confident in Christ.
We have hope, for we believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We believe Jesus died and was raised to life again. When Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died (asleep in Christ).
What a sound: Jesus will return with a trumpet call. Won’t that be something? The Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, living Christians will be caught up with Jesus in the air - God is not done with the supernatural - He never was and never will be. Then we will be with Jesus forever. There is only one return of the King. Not many returns or a secret return followed by so many years yada yada. Just one return of the King. Trust it. Expect it.
Look forward to it (2 Peter 3).
Jesus said that He came to earth to “set the world on fire and I wish it were already burning!” (Luke 12:49). God knows our hearts oh too well. We pray for favour and reprieve - and when God in tenderhearted mercy grants it we quickly forget and go on our foolish way (think King Hezekiah in Isaiah 38 and 39).
Jesus Christ grants every man free will. And responsibility. God expects us to grow in wisdom. So let’s grow. We need no priests, for we are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). That curtain has been ripped apart. Forever torn down. We now have direct access to our Father - and we have the Holy Spirit in us. The religious crew works tirelessly to sew the curtain back together. Leave them to their futility.
Jesus’ men and women are different. God’s children obey the Royal Law of Christ that sets us free. We are called by God to repent of our sins and turn to God (Luke 13:3).
God is waiting patiently. He’s waiting patiently for us to turn to him and produce good fruit. Today’s the day. Let’s get to work. Settle disputes. Give. Encourage. Work hard. Pray. Heal the sick. Remove the wicked. Fight and expose evil. Right wrongs. Share the message that God loves every person and wants reconciliation with them. Stay away from sin. Stop lying.
The Kingdom of God is growing, permeating everything in this world. And it will continue to grow until Jesus returns (Luke 13:20).
We have hope. We have Jesus. Jesus will return. And when Jesus returns He will bring back with Him all of those who trust in Him (4:14).
Lord God, thank you for this day. Our trust and hope are in you alone. Amen.
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