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Thursday, August 26, 2010

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1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Psalm 145:2-7
Matthew 24:42-51

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"He will strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." —1 Corinthians 1:8

We know Jesus is coming a second and final time, but we don't know when. "You cannot know the day your Lord is coming" (Mt 24:42). This motivates us to "stay awake" and be prepared. Each day we put in a good day's work for the Lord. "Happy that servant whom his master discovers at work on his return!" (Mt 24:46)

We try not to fight with our fellow servants (Mt 24:49). The awareness of Jesus' final coming helps us see things in the right perspective. Time and eternity are too precious to be entangled with petty disagreements and selfish jealousies. Also, we refrain from getting too involved with the foolish pleasures of the world. In the light of Jesus' second coming, material things lose much of their value.

Jesus' final coming is not only concerned with life after death. It is also a positive, motivating, freeing reality which transforms our lives before death. His second coming is and will be such a wonderful part of God's plan of salvation. We rejoice in the final day the Lord has made and try to hasten it by our repentance, intercession, and evangelization (2 Pt 3:12). With the believers of all time, we cry out: "Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!" (see 1 Cor 16:22) He answers: Soon and "very soon" (Rv 1:1).

Prayer:  Lord, I want to be ready. I give my life to You. Do with me as You want.

Promise:  "I continually thank my God for you because of the favor He has bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, in Whom you have been richly endowed with every gift of speech and knowledge." —1 Cor 1:4

Praise:  Once fearing the final coming of Jesus, Dora now longs for the coming of her Savior.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape Judgment Day on audio AV 75-3 or video V-75.)

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 8, 2010

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