The Lord is near

Philippians 4:5 AMPC

Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon].

"The Lord is near"... that's the word I heard first thing in the half light of the grey November morning!

Of course, we do know that Jesus is very close to us, especially when we are hurting.

But, In the context of this verse, it means Jesus is coming back soon!

This led me to think about how I want to be found when He returns!

What if I'm not at my best, at that very moment having a row or "chewing" on some "tasty" gossip! How embarrassed and ashamed I would be!

The closer Jesus' return is, the more I want to be found rejoicing in His love and forgiveness.

The verses surrounding the one above show us the way to behave in the hurly-burly of this broken world:

Philippians 4:4 AMPC

Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

Philippians 4:6 AMPC

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition ( definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

So rejoice in Jesus and throw everything on Him via prayers that are as natural as breathing.

May the Holy Spirit help us to do just that and be found thanking Jesus at the moment of His Return.

Matthew 24:32“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Matthew 24: 45“A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.