December 9
Joel 1:1-3:21; Revelation 1:1-20; Psalm 128:1-6; Proverbs 29:18
Two major themes throughout the Bible are salvation and judgment. Judgment is the consequence for those who have not found salvation in Christ. These ideas are essentially two sides of the same coin. When Christ comes back what will face all of humanity is either judgment or salvation.
Joel describes God’s judgment coming upon the nation as a horde of locusts. They will come and ravage the land and the crops of the people. Yet after these events we are told that God will do dramatic acts among the people. He will send his Spirit (an event that has already happened) and will send signs in the heavens culminating with Christ’s return (an event we are still waiting for) and “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Past acts of God’s judgment culminating in the final day of the Lord should call us to pursue holiness today. Joel tells the nations to “put on sackcloth,” mourn, wail, tremble, return to him, rend their heart, return to the Lord, and call on the name of the Lord. We are to respond to sin with confession and repentance and respond to Christ by making him central in our lives. John begins Revelation by describing the glory and majesty of the glorified Christ and he is the one we are to focus our eyes and lives upon as well. He is coming back so we need to live in light of that reality today.
Father God, help me to make my life all about you. Help me to pursue your glory and greatness in everything. Amen.
Question: How can you more intentionally live in light of the salvation and judgment Christ will bring at his return?
Two major themes throughout the Bible are salvation and judgment. Judgment is the consequence for those who have not found salvation in Christ. These ideas are essentially two sides of the same coin. When Christ comes back what will face all of humanity is either judgment or salvation.
Joel describes God’s judgment coming upon the nation as a horde of locusts. They will come and ravage the land and the crops of the people. Yet after these events we are told that God will do dramatic acts among the people. He will send his Spirit (an event that has already happened) and will send signs in the heavens culminating with Christ’s return (an event we are still waiting for) and “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Past acts of God’s judgment culminating in the final day of the Lord should call us to pursue holiness today. Joel tells the nations to “put on sackcloth,” mourn, wail, tremble, return to him, rend their heart, return to the Lord, and call on the name of the Lord. We are to respond to sin with confession and repentance and respond to Christ by making him central in our lives. John begins Revelation by describing the glory and majesty of the glorified Christ and he is the one we are to focus our eyes and lives upon as well. He is coming back so we need to live in light of that reality today.
Father God, help me to make my life all about you. Help me to pursue your glory and greatness in everything. Amen.
Question: How can you more intentionally live in light of the salvation and judgment Christ will bring at his return?
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