Billy Graham Devotional
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew
24:42, NKJV).
--------------------------------------------------------------
A Word From Billy Graham
“The world in which we live is full of pessimism. No Christian has the
scriptural right to go around wringing his hands wondering what we are to do in
the face of the present world situation. The Scripture says that in the midst of
persecution, confusion, wars and rumors of wars, we are to comfort one another
with the knowledge that our Lord Jesus Christ is coming back in triumph, glory
and majesty (1 Thessalonians 4:18). Many times when I go to bed at night I think
to myself that before I awaken Christ may come. Sometimes when I get up and look
at the dawn I think that perhaps this is the day He will come. He has told us
Christians to be watching constantly and to be ready, ‘for the Son of Man is
coming at an hour you do not expect’ (Matthew 24:44, NKJV). Do you think Christ
will come today? ‘Probably not,’ you say. It is on just such a day that He may
come. What a glorious time of reunion it’s going to be, when we shall be caught
up with Him!”
--------------------------------------------------------------
While We Are Waiting…
“If we believe that Christ could come at any time, though we do not know when,
what should we be doing while we are waiting? Obviously we should not be idle.
We should be ‘redeeming the time,’ (Ephesians 5:16, NKJV) making the most of our
life and service and using our opportunities to witness to Christ. Now is the
time to tell others about Jesus. Now is the time to pray for their salvation.
Now is the time to be faithful stewards of our earthly possessions. The rapture
is a wonderful doctrine. It is a movement of believers from Earth to heaven; the
Second Coming is a movement of believers, angels and all the hosts of heaven,
from heaven to Earth to begin Christ's Kingdom on Earth. It brings freedom from
anxiety, as in John 14; and it is a comforting hope, as stated in 1
Thessalonians 4:18. Also, it is a purifying hope, as stated in 1 John 3:2-3:
‘Now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be,
but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him
as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is
pure’ (NKJV). We should be ‘looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing
of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ’” (John F. Walvoord).
Prayer
Lord, thank You for the promise of Your return to earth one day. We eagerly
await the day when You will take Your people to be with You. Remind us to
encourage one another with this hope as we serve You and await Your coming. We
pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming” (Matthew
24:42, NKJV).
--------------------------------------------------------------
A Word From Billy Graham
“The world in which we live is full of pessimism. No Christian has the
scriptural right to go around wringing his hands wondering what we are to do in
the face of the present world situation. The Scripture says that in the midst of
persecution, confusion, wars and rumors of wars, we are to comfort one another
with the knowledge that our Lord Jesus Christ is coming back in triumph, glory
and majesty (1 Thessalonians 4:18). Many times when I go to bed at night I think
to myself that before I awaken Christ may come. Sometimes when I get up and look
at the dawn I think that perhaps this is the day He will come. He has told us
Christians to be watching constantly and to be ready, ‘for the Son of Man is
coming at an hour you do not expect’ (Matthew 24:44, NKJV). Do you think Christ
will come today? ‘Probably not,’ you say. It is on just such a day that He may
come. What a glorious time of reunion it’s going to be, when we shall be caught
up with Him!”
--------------------------------------------------------------
While We Are Waiting…
“If we believe that Christ could come at any time, though we do not know when,
what should we be doing while we are waiting? Obviously we should not be idle.
We should be ‘redeeming the time,’ (Ephesians 5:16, NKJV) making the most of our
life and service and using our opportunities to witness to Christ. Now is the
time to tell others about Jesus. Now is the time to pray for their salvation.
Now is the time to be faithful stewards of our earthly possessions. The rapture
is a wonderful doctrine. It is a movement of believers from Earth to heaven; the
Second Coming is a movement of believers, angels and all the hosts of heaven,
from heaven to Earth to begin Christ's Kingdom on Earth. It brings freedom from
anxiety, as in John 14; and it is a comforting hope, as stated in 1
Thessalonians 4:18. Also, it is a purifying hope, as stated in 1 John 3:2-3:
‘Now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be,
but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him
as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is
pure’ (NKJV). We should be ‘looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing
of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ’” (John F. Walvoord).
Prayer
Lord, thank You for the promise of Your return to earth one day. We eagerly
await the day when You will take Your people to be with You. Remind us to
encourage one another with this hope as we serve You and await Your coming. We
pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
--------------------------------------------------------------