Living with Purpose: Anticipating Christ's Return

Devotional

Day 1: Faithful Service as Worship

Living in anticipation of Christ's return means embracing our daily tasks with diligence and purpose. This perspective transforms our work into an act of worship, where every responsibility is an opportunity to serve God. The biblical call to be faithful and wise servants, as illustrated in Matthew 24:44-47, encourages us to be diligent in our God-given tasks. This is not limited to employment but extends to all areas of life where we are called to act with integrity and purpose. By viewing our work as a form of worship, we ensure that when Christ returns, we are found faithfully fulfilling our responsibilities. [04:29]

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: What specific task or responsibility can you approach with a renewed sense of purpose and worship today, knowing it is ultimately for the Lord?

Day 2: The Power of Community and Fellowship

The anticipation of Christ's return underscores the importance of gathering with other believers. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us not to neglect meeting together, especially as we see the day of the Lord approaching. Being part of a church community is vital for spiritual growth and perseverance, as it helps us stay spiritually vibrant and prevents our love from growing cold. The communal aspect of faith provides encouragement, accountability, and support, enabling us to remain fervent in our devotion as we await Christ's return. [06:29]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively contribute to your church community this week to encourage and support others in their faith journey?

Day 3: Pursuing Purity in Hope

Our hope in Christ's return should motivate us to live pure lives now. First John 3:2-3 connects our hope in seeing Jesus with the call to purify ourselves. This anticipation of being transformed into Christ's likeness inspires us to pursue holiness, reflecting the purity we will fully realize when He appears. By striving for purity, we align our lives with the character of Christ, preparing ourselves for the transformation that will occur at His coming. [08:34]

"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." (1 John 3:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel called to pursue greater purity, and what steps can you take today to align with that calling?

Day 4: Gentleness in the Face of Adversity

Trusting in God's perfect timing and justice allows us to respond to adversity with gentleness. Philippians 4:4-5 and 1 Peter 4:12-13 teach us to face life's challenges with a gentle spirit, knowing that God will ultimately set all things right. This trust frees us from the need for vengeance and enables us to live peaceably, even in difficult circumstances. By embodying gentleness, we reflect Christ's character and demonstrate our faith in His sovereign plan. [10:17]

"Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: In what situation can you choose to respond with gentleness today, trusting in God's justice and timing?

Day 5: Joy in Suffering

Embracing suffering with joy is possible when we understand its connection to the glory that will be revealed at Christ's return. Our present trials are opportunities to deepen our joy and reliance on God, as they prepare us for the glory to be revealed. By viewing suffering through the lens of eternity, we can find joy in the midst of hardship, knowing that our trials are not in vain but are shaping us for the future. [12:13]

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: How can you find joy in a current trial, viewing it as an opportunity to grow in faith and reliance on God?

Sermon Summary

In reflecting on the imminent return of Christ, it's crucial to consider how this profound truth impacts our daily lives. The anticipation of Christ's second coming is not merely a theological concept but a call to action, urging us to live with purpose and intentionality. The book "Come Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Second Coming of Christ" emphasizes practical applications of this hope, particularly in its final chapters. One standout chapter, "Go to Work, Go to Church," underscores the simplicity and directness of living in light of Christ's return.

The directive to "go to work" is rooted in the biblical call to be faithful and wise servants, as illustrated in Matthew 24:44-47. This passage encourages us to be diligent in our God-given tasks, ensuring that when Christ returns, we are found faithfully fulfilling our responsibilities. This is not just about employment but about living out our vocations with integrity and purpose, knowing that our work is a form of worship and service to God.

Similarly, the exhortation to "go to church" highlights the importance of community and fellowship as we await Christ's return. Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us not to neglect meeting together, especially as we see the day of the Lord approaching. The communal aspect of faith is vital for spiritual growth and perseverance, as it keeps our love from growing cold and helps us remain fervent in our devotion.

Pursuing purity is another essential response to the hope of Christ's return. First John 3:2-3 connects our hope in seeing Jesus with the call to purify ourselves. This anticipation of being transformed into Christ's likeness motivates us to live holy lives now, reflecting the purity we will fully realize when He appears.

Being gentle and suffering with joy are also integral to living in light of the second coming. Philippians 4:4-5 and 1 Peter 4:12-13 teach us to respond to life's challenges with gentleness and joy, trusting that God will ultimately set all things right. This perspective allows us to endure trials with a sense of peace and hope, knowing that our present sufferings are preparing us for the glory to be revealed.

Key Takeaways

1. Faithful Service: Living in anticipation of Christ's return means being diligent in our daily tasks, viewing our work as a form of worship and service to God. This faithfulness ensures that we are ready to meet Him at any moment. [04:29]
2. Community and Fellowship: The importance of gathering with other believers cannot be overstated. As the day of the Lord approaches, being part of a church community helps us stay spiritually vibrant and prevents our love from growing cold. [06:29]
3. Pursuit of Purity: Our hope in Christ's return should motivate us to live pure lives now. This pursuit of holiness is a reflection of our desire to be like Him and prepares us for the transformation we will experience at His coming. [08:34]
4. Gentleness in Adversity: Trusting in God's perfect timing and justice allows us to respond to adversity with gentleness, knowing that He will settle all accounts. This trust frees us from the need for vengeance and enables us to live peaceably. [10:17]
5. Joy in Suffering: Embracing suffering with joy is possible when we understand its connection to the glory that will be revealed at Christ's return. Our present trials are opportunities to deepen our joy and reliance on God. [12:13]
** [12:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction to the Book
[00:41] - Life Applications of Christ's Return
[01:09] - Go to Work, Go to Church
[02:33] - Biblical Basis for Directives
[03:19] - Faithful Service
[05:21] - Importance of Church Community
[06:29] - Meeting Together as the Day Approaches
[07:41] - Pursue Purity
[09:26] - Be Gentle
[11:40] - Suffer with Joy
[12:49] - Final Reflections
[13:05] - Conclusion and Book Information
[13:36] - Preview of Next Episode

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living in Anticipation of Christ's Return

Bible Reading:

Matthew 24:44-47
Hebrews 10:24-25
1 John 3:2-3

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Observation Questions:

According to Matthew 24:44-47, what characteristics define a "faithful and wise servant"? How does this relate to the directive to "go to work"? [03:19]
In Hebrews 10:24-25, what reasons are given for the importance of meeting together as believers, especially as the day of the Lord approaches? [06:29]
How does 1 John 3:2-3 connect the hope of Christ's return with the call to purify ourselves? What does this imply about our current lives? [08:34]
What does Philippians 4:4-5 suggest about the relationship between gentleness and the nearness of the Lord? [10:17]

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Interpretation Questions:

How might the anticipation of Christ's return influence a believer's approach to their daily work and responsibilities? Consider the implications of viewing work as a form of worship. [04:49]
What role does community play in maintaining spiritual fervor as we await Christ's return, according to Hebrews 10:24-25? How might neglecting fellowship impact one's faith? [06:29]
In what ways does the hope of being transformed into Christ's likeness motivate believers to pursue purity now? How does this hope shape one's daily decisions and actions? [08:34]
How does the understanding that God will ultimately set all things right influence a believer's response to adversity and suffering? What does it mean to suffer with joy in light of 1 Peter 4:12-13? [12:13]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your current job or daily responsibilities. How can you approach these tasks with a mindset of worship and service to God, knowing that Christ could return at any moment? [04:49]
Consider your involvement in your church community. Are there ways you can deepen your commitment to fellowship and encourage others as the day of the Lord approaches? What steps can you take this week to engage more fully? [06:29]
Identify areas in your life where you struggle with purity. How can the hope of Christ's return inspire you to make changes in these areas? What practical steps can you take to pursue holiness? [08:34]
Think about a recent challenge or adversity you have faced. How can you respond with gentleness and trust in God's timing and justice? What might it look like to let go of the need for vengeance and live peaceably? [10:17]
Reflect on a time when you experienced suffering. How did you find joy in that situation, and how can you apply that experience to future trials? What role does the hope of Christ's return play in finding joy amidst suffering? [12:13]
How can you actively remind yourself of the imminent return of Christ in your daily life? Are there specific practices or habits you can adopt to keep this hope at the forefront of your mind?
Consider someone in your life who may be struggling with their faith. How can you encourage them to remain steadfast and hopeful as we await Christ's return? What specific actions can you take to support them this week?

Sermon Clips

"so with the possibility of his soon return as our hope how do we live our lives today how do we respond right now as I flip through the book I made the entire final third of this new book is is all about how we should live in the light of the second coming and one of the chapters in that section stands out uh because of its brief and simple title chapter 21 go to work go to church is there a Biblical basis for these simple directives and if so explain what you write in that chapter because it seems like a lot of people are pretty curious about it" [00:55:50]

"yeah it's amazing in in almost all the interviews I've done and they've done four or five yeah um all of them pick up on that chapter I evidently touched the nerve yeah go to work go to church right and I'm happy I did because I like it I like Simplicity and bluntness yes the answer is yes there is a Biblical basis for those simple directives in fact I was struck as I worked on this book how many straight forward links there were between our expectation of the second coming and it's practical effect on the way we live" [01:30:84]

"so not not only do you have go to work go to church but I would add pursue purity be gentle suffer with joy all five of those are simple straightforward exhortations uh explicitly connected to the second coming of Christ so maybe we'd be helpful just to take them one at a time and give a a verse and a comment to go with each one so people could see I'm not making this up um go to work uh many times in my life well especially while I was a pastor but now too I have pondered the question what do I want to be found doing" [02:09:66]

"when the Lord comes should he come in my lifetime and I think he could even now at age 77 read the book and you'll find out oh I think that way um there are a lot of things I don't want to be found doing right I don't want to be walking in any sin but what do I want to be found doing when the Lord comes and here is the text from which I got uh go to work this is Matthew 24 44 to 47. Jesus said you also must be ready for the son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect" [02:79:22]

"and then he tells us how to be ready who then is the faithful and wise servant now that's what we want to be right we that's what I want to be when he comes I'm going to be found faithful a wise servant who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has set over his household to give them their food at the proper time blessed I want to hear that word blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes I just think that's a great statement truly I say to you he will set him over all his possessions" [03:23:68]

"in other words you will be blessed at the second coming if you're doing what the master assigned you to do with your life so my paraphrase is go to work in other words if you believe that the job you have right now is God's will for your life then keep on doing it do it Faithfully do it in his name do it for his glory do it in Reliance on his power do it the way he wants you to do it and and when he comes 10 o'clock in the morning you're doing your work he'll find you so doing what he's given you to do and you will be blessed" [03:66:16]

"so first time first end time exhortation go to work second go to church now I wonder how many Christians take Church the Assembly of God's people in corporate worship seriously enough to say the Lord is coming soon I need to go to church I need to be in fellowship with other Christians in a healthy Church in worship and service how many people make that connection well here's the connection Hebrews 10 24. let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some but encouraging one another" [05:12:18]

"and here's the key phrase and all the more as you see the day Drawing Near wow so the day Drawing Near is the day of the Lord the coming the near coming of the second coming of Christ so Hebrews is saying as the day of of Christ's coming draws near it becomes increasingly important not to neglect the meeting together with other Christians I think we ought to let that sink in there's a reason for that and the natural understanding of these verses would be that in it this is just an ordinary healthy Church worship service Fellowship gathering together" [06:03:63]

"so it's just an amazing statement that Jesus would say and I think this is why we dare not forsake the assembling of ourselves together Jesus says in the last days Matthew 12 24 12 the love of many will grow cold now when a glowing coal is taken out of the fireplace and put by itself it goes cold doesn't stay hot but when when you leave the coals together in the fire pit they stay hot so there is a connection between becoming a recluse a loner and growing cold and indifferent to the second coming" [06:41:14]

"and and Jesus is going to happen the love of man is going to grow cold because they're not going to church they're not in good solid healthy loving bible-saturated fellowships that help each other stay hot so go to church number three pursupurity now that may be the clearest of all in the way it's connected connected to the second coming because of First John 3 2 and 3. beloved we are God's children now and what we will be has not yet appeared but we know that when he appears we will be like him because we will see him as he is" [07:57:40]

"and everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure wow I love clarity anyone who thus hopes thus hopes hopes for what what does that refer to well it refers to the hope of seeing Jesus as he is and by that amazing sight being transformed into his pure and holy image and then he says if you really hope for this if you want this if you're longing for this if this event is your passion and you love it you're gonna purify yourself you're not gonna wait you're not going to be indifferent to whether your life has the Purity now that you're hoping for" [08:47:94]

"then when in the twinkling of an eye you're going to be changed into the pure likeness of Jesus it can't be otherwise you can't long to be pure when you see Jesus and be indifferent to Purity as you wait for Jesus can't do it so if you love The Lord's appearing good work go to church pursue Purity fourth be gentle that is don't return evil for evil and here's what Paul says Philippians 4 4 rejoice in the lord always again I will say rejoice let your gentleness be known to everyone the Lord is at hand don't be anxious about anything be gentle the Lord is at hand amazing" [09:54:16]

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Living with Purpose: Anticipating Christ's Return

Devotional

Day 1: Faithful Service as Worship

Day 2: The Power of Community and Fellowship

Day 3: Pursuing Purity in Hope

Day 4: Gentleness in the Face of Adversity

Day 5: Joy in Suffering

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Living with Purpose: Anticipating Christ's Return

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