Advent Season … The Already-Lord

Advent Season … The Already-Lord

Today’s Passage:  2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.(1-4)

Words of Devotion from the Scripture




Christ has come! Christ is coming again!

We might expect people in general to get anxious about the things of our world: a difficult economy, powerful politician who doesn't really do much of anything, a growing disparity between the rich and the poor of the world, natural disasters, and so on - you know the like.

Yet for we who proclaim and follow the Christ, our anxiety is of a different sort. We worry and fret not, but we certainly anticipate. Especially during Advent, we remember that Christ is already Lord (Phil.2:9-11, Col. 1:15-20, John 19:30, Rev. 4:2), and so we anticipate his coming again. 

Despite difficult or disappointing situations, Jesus Christ is already Lord.

Despite loneliness, Jesus Christ is already Lord.

Despite changed circumstances, Jesus Christ is already Lord.

Despite unexpected situations, Jesus Christ is already Lord.

Despite my mistakes, your disappointment, our inadequacy or anything else that 

would cause us to be brought down…Jesus Christ is already Lord.

If we were to paraphrase the first beatitude, it would read in this way: “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule.” These situations that seem threatening are actually opportunities of God's rule and Christ's dominion. Paul's words to the Church at Thessalonian ring of this notion:

"As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here."

Then there are those other disappointments

Worried about a “falling” society and “corrupt” government?

Check out I Samuel 8

Feeling defeated? Look to II Corinthians 4:9b

Feeling abandoned? Read John 14:18

Feeling like our “Christian heritage” is being challenged? Be encouraged by Matthew 5:10

Feeling inadequate without money, and weak without measurable results? 

Remember II Corinthians 4:7

Don’t get me wrong – we have a loving work to do, a high mission to which we are called. And it’s because of this that we must not let these things bring us down. Fight the urge to fight…instead, let God be God, stand firm, and let’s fulfill the calling to which he has summoned us (John 13:35).  For when we are challenged by the ways of the world, we must then remember:

Christ has come! Christ is coming again!

PRAYER: Almighty Father, in days of uncertainty and unrest, and especially in the light of this Advent season, help me to remember your Lordship: that you are indeed Lord of all Creation, Lord of the Universe, and thus, Lord of my life.  I submit to you again this day. In Christ, Amen.