READING:
One-year plan: Isaiah 54-58, 1 Thessalonians 3-4
Two-year plan: 1 Kings 19:1-20:34, John 7:37-8:1
———
“And so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thess 4:17b).
These words may be few, but they speak volumes. Paul wanted the Thessalonians to know that death was not the end, and both the dead in Christ and those alive at the time of His coming would be with Him. Theologians and practitioners have debated for years about the details of Jesus’ coming, and we still do so today. When will the return happen? Will believers go through the time of great tribulation? Will there be a literal 1000-year reign of Christ? Writers have produced books, and directors have produced movies about this topic—but still we wonder about the details. What I’ve learned over the years, though, is that trying to understand these details may be an interesting exercise, but how all this happens is not what matters. What matters is that we will always be with the Lord.
When I know that’s the rest of the story, I don’t worry about these other issues. Once I’m with Jesus, those details aren’t going to matter anyway. We do indeed have reason to encourage one another with these words today (1 Thess 4:18).
PERSONAL REFLECTION: What does it mean to you to know you’ll be with the Lord always is you are a believer?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, I look forward to the return of Christ. May You find me faithful in that day.”
TOMORROW’S READINGS:
One-year plan: Isaiah 59-64, 1 Thessalonians 5
Two-year plan: 1 Kings 20:35-21:29, John 8:2-11
