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Hear the devotional here: https://anchor.fm/eradio-valverde/episodes/All-in-Gods-Time-e1q25ei
1 Now, friends, read these next words carefully. Slow down and don't go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him. 2 Don't let anyone shake you up or get you excited over some breathless report or rumored letter from me that the day of the Master's arrival has come and gone. 3 Don't fall for any line like that. 4 He'll defy and then take over every so-called god or altar. Having cleared away the opposition, he'll then set himself up in God's Temple as "God Almighty." 5 Don't you remember me going over all this in detail when I was with you? Are your memories that short? 13 Meanwhile, we've got our hands full continually thanking God for you, our good friends - so loved by God! God picked you out as his from the very start. Think of it: included in God's original plan of salvation by the bond of faith in the living truth. 14 This is the life of the Spirit he invited you to through the Message we delivered, in which you get in on the glory of our Master, Jesus Christ. 15 So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. 16 May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, 17 put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 The Message Bible)
Happy Tuesday everyone! I pray the exploits of last night didn't keep you up late, nor did the leftover candy spoil your supper and your breakfast this morning! Okay, I may be giving myself away? I'll never tell! Let us continue to pray for one another. Let us add the name of Mrs. Acacia Vaquez, wife of The Rev. Virgilio Vasquez Garza, who is having a knee checked on this coming Friday. Acacia injured her knee and the pain has not decreased. She had knee replacement surgery some years back, and we pray that therapy be all she needs. Pray for those who are also having knee problems and surgeries. Pray for those who have Covid. Pray for those, especially children, who are ill with the flu. Pray for one another. Pray for the needs of the world. Pray that God speak to you in this devotional time.
Let me tell you how honored and humbled I am for you to be with me in this devotional time. I pray that it is God Who would speak to us, even through a broken and flawed vessel such as myself. Let us pray for God to bless us in a rich way.
There have been times in my life when I promised something and then it did not materialize. It was not my intention to mislead. And I would venture to guess that you, too, also at one time said something would happen, and then it did not. I did love the times I said nothing and then was able to surprise with something completely unexpected. One Christmas Eve in Mission, Texas, that part of the state not known for any time of snow except in the rarest of times, I, with the financial backing of a church member, asked an ice company in McAllen to come after seven p.m., yes, on a Christmas Eve, to provide a surprise gift of snow for our church's yard. The excitement on the part of the kids and the parents is something I will never forget. Even years later, when visiting our favorite meat market which was next store to the church, the owner's son, who was a child the time of the snow, said, "Reverend, man I will never forget that Christmas when you brought snow to the church! We played in it for days!"
The Apostle Paul began his ministry with the promise that the Lord Jesus was coming soon. Many were those who were converted under that promise. And then the days came when the persecution of Christians became more intense and people found themselves and their loved ones thrown to the lions and other hideous ways to die, and all for the sake of Jesus. People began to ask, "Where is Jesus?' And they also asked, "What's taking so long?" What made it interesting and confusing is that when people speculate they add to reality and so Paul, in this passage, is addressing the situation of waiting. So, this is a very serious passage as you can read Paul saying, "read these next words carefully. Slow down and don't go jumping to conclusions regarding the day when our Master, Jesus Christ, will come back and we assemble to welcome him." He is still sure on this fact, because he knows in his heart and deep in his soul, that Jesus Christ was coming back. He is a bit angered that some have said that Paul had declared that the day of Jesus' return had come and gone. "Don't fall for that! Jesus will come and take care of those who have given up on their faith, and gone to idols. Paul knows that when Jesus returns He will set Himself in God's Temple, and not hide His identity as "God Almighty." Paul reminds them of the time he spent teaching them about all the things that were to come and be a part of this Second Coming of Christ Jesus. And all who have given their lives to Jesus will be a part of that glorious arrival and celebration. Paul's call is for the Church to endure; to hold fast to that which we were taught and which we hold near and dear; and Paul prays that God bless them in holding fast and still trying to bring in other believers to the faith. I love this version's closing sentence, "May Jesus Himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech." May it be so!
PRAYER: Loving God, grant us Your patience in the facing and living of these days; grant us the strong faith of Paul to await Jesus' return for us. Grant to us what Paul shared in that last verse; for we seek to be faithful and fruitful; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Be invigorated today for Jesus!
Receive my love and blessings for hope,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
