Advent Season … In the Meantime

Advent Season … In the Meantime

Today’s Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters,[a] we don’t really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. (1-3)

 

Words of Devotion from the Scripture

How many times have we heard that, we don't know when Jesus will come again? It’s probably more times than we can count. All we're ever told is that the time is "soon." Our passage today says that the "Day of the Lord" will come like a "thief in the night," meaning it will sneak up on us, catch us unawares. Paul, however, tells us that we do not need to be surprised because we live in the light.

One of the great joys of the Advent season is that we're not only celebrating the birth of our Lord. This season is more than just celebration for what happened in the past. As we remember and celebrate the birth of our Lord we look forward to a Second Advent, when our Lord will once again come to us. But what are we to do in the meantime?

We are to be faithful and dwell in the light of salvation that comes through Jesus Christ. Living in the light means we are never without hope. We are never far from our Lord, who keeps us with Him at all times. We are to encourage each other to keep to a life lived in the light, because our Lord Jesus Christ is our past, present, and future. As we observe Advent let us remember that we celebrate a glorious past event which holds strong in the present and looks to the future with great excitement and hope.

 

PRAYER: Dearest Lord Jesus, as we remember your birth we look ahead to the day when you will come to us again. We wait with great anticipation, and as we wait we pray for the strength to be faithful and to hold onto you even when it seems easier to let you go. We love you. Amen.