“Encourage one another—and all the more as you see ‘the Day’ approaching” (Heb.10:25).
Heavenly Father, what a destiny we have as your children, what a Father you are as our Abba, what riches you have given us in the Gospel. Because of Jesus’ finished work, our forever will be sin-void, evil-absent, and beauty-filled. The day of Jesus’ return and everything that day will bring with it is awesome it has its own name—“the Day.”
Eternity will be relationally perfect and environmentally flawless—trees and mountains will clap and skip (Isa.55:12, Ps.114:4). We ourselves will frolic like new born calves (Mal.4:2) and wolves and lambs will nap together (Isa.11:9). Stress, rush, mean, and fear will be forever gone. We’ll soon realize that whatever we thought “heaven” would be—our bar was too low, our hopes were too lame, our imagination was too tiny.
SO, Father, until that perfectly timed Day, you have called and commissioned us to live as non-stop encouragers, mercy-friends, and grace-fountains to each other. Why would we choose otherwise? Life is so short. You are so good. Our forever is so perfect. Our now is so in your hands.
For the remaining 6 weeks and 2 days of 2024, free us to speak words of life and kindness to each other. May we catch each other “doing it right,” and honor one another above ourselves. Help us overlook stuff that irritates in the moment but will be forgotten forever.
Father, thank you for Jesus, and everything else. Whether we die before Jesus returns—or even before this Christmas, we are presently and forever yours. Nothing can separate us from your love, or derail your plans for anything. In Jesus’ name and for your glory we offer our, So Very Amen.