At True North, one of our favorite words to say is MARANATHA. It means, “Come, O Lord!” And the encouraging news is that Jesus is coming. Soon. And this is news that needs to be used.
In
The Coming of the Lord
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (ESV)
, Paul explains how the rapture is going to happen when Jesus comes to get his people. All of those who have died in Christ will rise. Then we who are still alive will meet our Lord in the air. We will get to see Jesus for the first time and we will be with him forever. Then Paul says this:
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. (ESV) –
The fact that Jesus could come back at any moment is something we should use to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to help them keep their lives ready for his return and not get caught up in worldly things. Many Christians are ready to give up and stop standing. We need to let them know that the finish line might be closer than they think and they should keep running toward their eternal reward.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (ESV) –
This is a classic Bible passage on encouragement, but what we often overlook is that we should do this even more as we see the return of Jesus coming. The Day with a capital “D’ is almost upon us. It is clear that we are living in the end times. Sin is on the rise. There are wars and natural disasters. Therefore, we should be stepping it up in our personal encouragement of other Christians.
13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (ESV) –
Who do you encourage on a daily basis so that they will be ready? Who are you going to remind today that the end is near and Jesus could be here at any moment? The fact that the deadline is always coming should keep us from being lazy or apathetic in our spiritual lives. We should live like today could be the day and ask each other, “Are you ready?”
Now is the time to encourage another Christian that you know. Who knows? Tomorrow may be too late!
(I wrote this blog to encourage you to live today like Jesus is coming back, because he is and we don’t know when. I hope you will pass this encouraging thought on to someone else. Leave a comment and let me know if you will!)
Mmmm!!! I’m feeling this, dawg!
I will definitely be encouraging others today!
Right on Pastor Bobby, I am excited for that DAY but I want to make sure that while I’m anticipating that I am faithful to the call He has given!!!
Maranatha! (come and get me!)
Amen, Pastor Bobby! I am having a phone meeting with my accountability partner today at 3:30 and I will be sure to encourage her to live like today is the day of Christ’s return. I like how you said we should realize the finish line is a lot closer than we think. As a runner, that really hit home with me. In races I want to give up near the end, but when I see the finish line, no matter how exhausted I am, I run faster, pressing toward my goal. Thanks for blogging about the importance of encouraging others and reminding ourselves that Jesus could come back today! Marantha!
Mmmm! I agree 100%!
The coming of the Lord, the Day when he returns (being soon) encourages me to keep up my battle against sin and to continue working ambitiously for the Lord! The Prophecy conference definitely served to encourage me in all these ways, so I will try to do the same to someone in Christ today.
Maranatha!
Thanks, Pastor Bobby! This is a great reminder to me to live life for the Lord and anticipate him every day to come. I’ll definitely be encouraging others with these words!
Maranatha!
awesome blog! I am super pumped for for encouraging others and to live like Jesus is coming back today. MARANATHA!!!
AMAZING POST! Thank you for posting this because i definitely need this encouragement right now and it is a great reminder that i should be warning others to make them aware that the Day is closer than we think and if He were to come back today, would we be ready? I know i wouldnt, so this is a great encouragement and i am printing off this post right now (:
This is AMAZING!!! Allie printed this off for me and we read it together in Ballet class with my friend Tyler Logan. It was awesome!!!
I wrote this blog to encourage you to live today like Jesus is coming back, because he is and we don’t know when. I hope you will pass this encouraging thought on to someone else. Leave a comment and let me know if you will
AND YES I WILL!!!! This was such an encouragement Bobby thank you so much! (:
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