Monday: Habit – Look for the Return of Jesus
Read Luke 12:35-48. What does this parable teach us about how we are to relate to the second coming of Jesus? Why must all that we do always be in the context of the reality of the Second Coming?
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Stewardship should be habitually practiced in light of Jesus’ return. The character of unfaithful stewards who act like faithful ones will eventually be known by their actions; for true, faithful stewards carry out their responsibilities by watching and working just as if the master were present. They live for the future and faithfully work day by day. “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20, NIV).
Abraham looked for an eternal city (Heb. 11:10), and Paul looked for Christ’s return (Heb. 10:25). They were forward thinkers, anticipating, planning, and ready at a moment’s notice to meet Jesus. We must also develop this habit of looking into the distance with a steady gaze for the climax of the gospel (Titus 2:13). Instead of peeking now and then or casually glancing at prophecy, we need to be continuously looking, watching, and doing, always aware of the eternity that awaits us when Christ returns. At the same time, we must avoid wild and fanciful speculations about end-time events. The promise of the Second Coming gives us direction in our lives, provides a proper perspective to the present, and helps us remember what is important in life. The habit of looking for the return of Jesus gives a steward definition and purpose.
The cross has paved the way for us to have a rendezvous with the Redeemer. We look for waymarks revealed in Scripture that point us to the coming of Christ in the glory of the Father and angels (Mark 8:38). “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18, NIV).
Yes, death, and the ever-present reality of death, should always help us realize just how limited and transient our time here is. But the promise of the Second Coming also shows us that death itself is temporary and transient. No wonder, then, that we should live in light of the promise of Christ’s return, a promise that should impact how every Christian steward lives. Let’s make it a habit now always to live in the expectation of Christ’s return. Our very name reveals the reality of that expectation.
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May our Precious Savior help us to be ready.
Yes, Beverley, God is the One that makes us ready. Living with the mind that is in Christ Jesus is the best way to await His return. Just dreaming of Heaven is not enough to produce His Character in us. This is accomplished by choosing that God's Spirit is motivating our hearts all the time in every circumstance. He will motivate our thoughts and feelings to be just like those Jesus would have in our place. This makes up the "mind" of Jesus in us.
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Expecting it for today, working as it could take one hundred years!
Balance! Jesus is marvelous! It is in our name, our DNA, and we must remember that. Adventist!
IamachildofGod
The danger that I see and experience with many Christians with the thought expressed in this lesson is,so many Christians especially Aventist Christians, are so focused on preparing for the coming of Jesus, they seemingly forget there is so much work to be done in the present. It's as if the old adage " they are so heavenly minded,they are of no earthly good" applies. Sometimes the attitude of reaching folk where they are as Jesus did is not applicable to them. May God us to realize that ministry " to the least of us" will not only prepare us,but also determin our destiny.
Although the title of today's lesson is 'look for Christ's return', I wonder if perhaps it would have been more accurate to title it 'hasten Christ's return' - through being faithful stewards.
What do I mean by this? Have a read of the following article excerpt written by Ellen White in 1883:
"Had Adventists, after the great disappointment in 1844, held fast their faith and followed on unitedly in the opening providence of God, receiving the message of the third angel and in the power of the Holy Spirit proclaiming it to the world, they would have seen the salvation of God, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts, the work would have been completed, and Christ would have come ere this to receive His people to their reward. But in the period of doubt and uncertainty that followed the disappointment, many of the advent believers yielded their faith.... Thus the work was hindered, and the world was left in darkness. Had the whole Adventist body united upon the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, how widely different would have been our history! {Ev 695.3}
It was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be thus delayed. God did not design that His people, Israel, should wander forty years in the wilderness. He promised to lead them directly to the land of Canaan, and establish them there a holy, healthy, happy people. But those to whom it was first preached, went not in “because of unbelief.” Their hearts were filled with murmuring, rebellion, and hatred, and He could not fulfill His covenant with them. {Ev 696.1}
For forty years did unbelief, murmuring, and rebellion shut out ancient Israel from the land of Canaan. The same sins have delayed the entrance of modern Israel into the heavenly Canaan. In neither case were the promises of God at fault. It is the unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration, and strife among the Lord’s professed people that have kept us in this world of sin and sorrow so many years.—Manuscript 4, 1883. {Ev 696.2}"
So it would seem we are not so much waiting on God for His return - He is actually waiting on us! So, what are we waiting for?
So what the Bible is saying is for me to be aware, watchful and not paranoid about the return of Christ while go to school, take care family, by grocery, entertain friend, buying cars,home. etc...Just remember to be loving caring and humble human being. And be aware of the persecution, misinformation, distortion, fanaticism, and manipulation that have always been on hand as a way of that is use by the devil.
Jesus said to not worry about tomorrow and to essentially live one day at a time. So it is in this context that we as SDA Christians are to eagerly await his soon second coming. Not tomorrow, Not yesterday, but today "In The Present." The Present = The Gift. That is the only gift that God gives us as far as time - the present.
Peter, isn't that the same given to all human beings? What makes the SDA Christians different?