Therefore

Therefore encourage each other with these words.

1Thess:4:18

According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive who are left till the coming of the Lord will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the arch angel and with the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Self explanatory.

I don't have anything more to comment. Just look forward to the hope we have with Jesus coming back to take us home. No more tears. No more fears. No more sadness. Only joy meeting Him in person. Look forward for that joy. It is this hope with which you are asked to endure. The hope of the beloved is mine and I am His. He is coming in person to rescue me and I will be in His bosom forever.

This day should not surprise you (5:4)

Let us be alert and selfcontrolled (5:6)

Putting faith and love as a breast plate and the hope of salvation as a helmet (5:8)

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up just as infact you are doing (5:11).

Comments

Are you a cause of delight?

Delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. Col:2:5 How delightful it would be for your mentor to see you firm in faith. How satisfying it would be for him to see all his works and prayers all not gone in vain. That you are rooted in God. How painful it would be for your mentor to see you squandered the knowledge; to see you lose your first love. To see you frightened and worried and tossed in life's great waves. Not trusting in the Saviour who died for you. How joyous your Saviour would be to see you grow in faith; to desire for Him no matter what. To yearn for Him and to find time for Him. For He has already said, that is eternal life. How painful it would be for Him to see you wander away. To see you tossed in life's waves. Where He has asked to just trust in Him. But you are frantic. How peaceful is the faith filled life. A life tuned to God. A promised, abundant life. A life that is planned for you by the Creator God. How tumultuous...

Just love her

Husbands love your wives. Col:3:19 Is it that difficult. You are asked to just love. In fact it is much simpler than submitting and obeying. You don't create love. You feel love. You have loved her before. Passionately, selflessly. You found time for her. You cared for her. Where is your first love? You don't love her when all is well alone. When life is difficult. that is when you love. Whe she is indecisive, that is when you love. When she is confused, that is when you love. Do not be harsh with them (v:19). Be considerate (1Pet:3:7). Treat them with respect (1Pet:3:7). They are the weaker partner. You are strong - mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually. You are the one to support. You are the one who cares. You are the one who provides. But heirs with you of the gracious gift - equal with you but weaker. So that nothing will hinder your prayers (1Pet:3:7b) Love her - emotionally, spiritually, mentally, in every aspect. Lord, fill me with your endless love...

Bear

Bear with each other. Col:3:13 Bear with each other means, adjust with each other. There might be unbearable circumstances created by incorrigible people. People who keep doing the same irritating inveterate things again and again. Keep bearing. Keep forgiving. Forgiving whatever grievances you may have against one another (v:13b) And over all these virtues, put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity (v:14) But what if you are not able to bear? If you are not able to forgive? If you are unable to love? Ask God to help you bear them; help you forgive them; help you love them There is no point in remembering their flaws and maintaining a strained relation Forgive. Choose to forgive. Tell yourself it is okay and deal with them lovingly. Pray for them Image credit: https://stock.adobe.com/search?k=hugging+teddy+bears

Lost connection

Col:2:19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews grows as God causes it to grow. Have you lost connection with the Head? The most pertinent question that you need to ask yourself. A connection which started on love. A connection maintained by discipline. A connection most needed for you to grow well. Because the head directs. The head knows. When the liver decides to grow on its own, it is cancerous. When the liver decides to grow a cartilage in it, comparing itself with its fellow, it is called a hamartoma. When the liver stops it's function, it fails to detoxify and it is harmful for the entire body. The head will direct. The head knows. The liver submits to the head. The liver is answerable to the head. The liver is connected to the head and this connection is quintessential for the designed purpose of the liver. Are you carcinomatous / hamartomatous/ toxic organ which is disconnected to ...

Finishing line

Phil:3:13-14 Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead. I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. What is past is past. You can't change it. But you can course correct. Brooding over your past mistakes; regretting over your past sins will never take you anywhere. When the Holy Spirit convinces you, correct your track and look forward and run in the right direction. Press on towards the goal. The goal is not to win the prize. But to finish the race well. Your job is to set your eyes on the finishing line and finish the race. It is God's job to give the prize. Why do athletes still run, even after they know somebody else has already won the prize. The goal is to finish the race, even if they have pulled a muscle or tore a ligament, their country has sent them to finish the race. They cannot say, if Bolt is there, there is no point in me contesting, and so I quit. Do not look at others as yo...

Alienated but now rescued

Col:1:21-22 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. But now He has reconciled you. Both because of the sin in us and because of our sinful nature, we had been alienated from the Holy God. By no means He could accommodate us, because He is not a compromising God, that He is not someone who could compromise sin. He couldn't brush it off, just like that. When He took the punishment upon Himself, so that an enemy like me could be reconciled with Him, it was love written all over it. Love to a wretch rebel like me. He did not want to lose me. Nor could He pass my sin off. And therefore the cross is quintessential. This is the base of the bard's faith. Yes He is my Father, my Friend, my Brother, my everpresent help in trouble. But primarily He is my Redeemer. He is my Saviour. He is the Holy God who loved me and saved me. From His own punishment He saved me by taking it upon Himself. What love is this? I cannot fatho...

Garbage

Phil:3:8 Yes everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else counting it all garbage, so that I could gain Christ. How do you value knowing the unending Christ? When you were saved, your eyes were opened. Praise the Lord for the revelation. That was life changing and precious. But after that? How have you grown in the knowledge of Him? What excites you most in this life? Everything else is garbage in comparison to knowing God? Is it really? And how do you know God unless you spend time with Him? What is your sole desire? V:10. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. What is your ambition? What is your utmost desire? Then what do you do about it? Yes it is grace. Even to desire Him. Lord my efforts would lead me nowhere, I admit. Show mercy upon me. That I would desire for you. That I may know you in a deeper way Image courtesy: ...

The halfbaked Bard

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