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1 Thessalonians
“ T H E W E D D I N G W I L L B E G I N at four o’clock on Saturday,
December 1,” the invitation read. The appointed time was precise.
“The meeting will begin at three o’clock in the Oak Room,” said
the announcer. That, too, was an appointed time.
What you will be
Every day we encounter appointed times—
reading about
doctor or dentist appointments, business or
church meetings, luncheon engagements, times
1:1-10
How the believers modeled
for school, Bible studies, Little League games,
their faith
soccer practices, or music lessons. There are
2:1– 3:13
many appointed times in a day or a week.
How the Thessalonians
There was also an appointed time for Jesus, the
received the Good News
Messiah, to come. It was called the fullness of
4:1-12
time, the right time, the appointed time. He met
Living to please God
his appointment at the right time and at the right
4:13 – 5:11
place, in Bethlehem. But when he came, Jesus
How Jesus will return and
did not make a grand entrance. We would think
what will happen
that the arrival of the creator of the universe, the
5:12-28
Messiah, Lord of lords, King of kings would have
Paul’s final instructions for
been accompanied with royal pomp and circumpractical living
stance—all the kings of all the world greeting
him with full military honors. But he chose to come as a baby in a manger. The
sounds of the Messiah’s coming were an infant’s cry and the lowing of nearby
animals. Even the one magnificent announcement from an angel choir was
on a lonely hillside to humble shepherds. The kings of the earthly kingdoms
slept through it all.
Messiah, Christ Jesus, is coming back again. There is another appointed
time, but no one knows the hour of that appointment. This is one of the dominant messages of 1 Thessalonians. This time Jesus will not come quietly. He
will come from heaven with a mighty shout, accompanied by the voice of the
archangel and a trumpet of God (4:16). His coming will be with power and
great glory (Matthew 24:30). Every eye will see him, and nations will no longer
ridicule him but will cry in sorrow and terror when they see him coming if they
do not know him (Revelation 1:7).
The message for us is clear: Be ready, be prepared, for Jesus Christ is
coming again. Watch for his coming; be on guard. Expect his appointment
to be fulfilled at any moment, for he will come at the least expected time
(Luke 12:40). But make the most of your time on earth as you await him by
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