Is Your Hair Combed?

Don Hussong shares this story:

After church, where she had been taught about the Christ’s reutrn, a little girl was quizzing her mother.

"Mommy, do you believe Jesus will come back?"

"Yes,” the mother replied.

"Today?" inquired the girl.

"Yes,” loving replied the mother.

"In a few minutes?" the girl insisted impatiently.

"Yes, dear," the mother answered.

The little girl screwed up her face and began to think. After a few moments, her expression gave way to joy as the little exclaimed, "Mommy, would you comb my hair?"

Cute story, but where are you when it comes to thinking about the Second Coming? As our live bustle on, moving faster and faster, I confess, it is very easy for me to lose sight of Jesus’ return to claim his own. It’s not that I don’t believe it will happen, or even that I shouldn’t concern myself with it; rather, it has more to do with the fact that I have my eyes fixed on the now rather than forever.

As Paul writes to his beloved church in Thessalonica, he has many things on his heart – not the least of which was to remind them to keep their eyes on the prize of eternal life. Many who lived in those days believed whole-heartedly that Christ would return in their lifetime. To that end, they lived their lives in such a way as to portray expectation and anticipation. And to increase their faith and restore their hope, Paul tells them that we will “rise to meet the Lord in the air, and so, we will be with the Lord forever!” Paul told them to keep the message of Christ’s return on their lips that they might be constantly encouraged, no matter what trail lay ahead.

As we live our lives of worship this week, remind yourself about the Second Coming, and what it means that Christ will return. Enumerate the emotions that surround this thought and what you imagine it will be like. Contemplate the fullness of an eternity with the risen Christ, and the futility of a life focused only on the now. Finally, just as the little girl decided upon hearing of the Second Coming, get your hair combed!

Resounding Themes:

Maranatha! Lord Come Quickly!Christ’s Death for Us
Speaking Encouragement

Getting READY to Worship

Ready, Set, READ

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Ready, Set, MEDITATE

What is Paul’s tone throughout this letter to the Thessalonians? In the opening parts of vvs. 13 ff? What seems to be going on in the community? Why does Paul seem intent on giving those are experiencing death a word of instruction? What is that message?

What place will those who have died in the Lord before he returns have on Judgment Day? Why does Paul emphasize that we will not precede them? As persecution of the church continues, why is a message of hope so powerful and timely for the Thessalonians to hear?

What can we infer from the words Paul uses to describe Christ’s return? Is it realistic to be constantly excited about Jesus coming back to claim his Church? Why or Why not? Paul implores the people to have this conversation on their lips as a constant reminder and encouragement. Would your day be any different if you always thought about the joy of Jesus’ return? What hope might come to you in an already hectic world?

Ready, Set, PRAY

O Lord, our Lord – how majestic is Your Name in all the earth! For Yours is the Name above all names…that at the very speaking of it, all the nations tremble and bow low in Your presence. And it is also at the name of Jesus that we bow, as we confess that He is Lord of lords and King of kings! He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, and He is coming again!

Jehovah who is quick to save, may our lives be a living testimony of the reality we hold so dear – that Christ Jesus is raised from the dead, He sits at the right hand of the Father, and that He’s coming back to claim His own…we who are cleansed in the whelming stream of His blood. Lord, take our gaze off of this world which is temporal, and fix them on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. May we never lose sight of the coming, victorious Christ!

Maranatha! Lord, come quickly!! Amen.

Ready, Set, WORSHIP!