Daily Walk Through the New Testament

January 13
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:28

Don’t you love watching the final few minutes of a close football game? Many times you will see every player on the team hold up 4 fingers as the third quarter ends and the fourth is about to begin — it’s a sign to communicate that everyone on the team realizes time is running out. Teams seem to pull out all the stops as the game comes to a close. No matter how tired the players are, they put forth maximum effort. Coaches seem to call more aggressive plays as they realize that it is now or never.
In 1 Thessalonians 4-5, Paul wrote about the certain return of Jesus Christ to end this present age. In light of the certain return of Christ, we as believers ought to live like we are in the last minutes of the fourth quarter of the game. We know time is running out. The God of the universe has revealed what will take place, and He has commanded us to be ready.
If we are ever going to live our lives on mission for Christ, now is the time. It’s now or never! Figuratively, let’s raise 4 fingers into the air to declare that we will live with focus and energy, like we are in the fourth quarter. Let’s be on mission today for Christ with a renewed passion and urgency in light of His certain return.