MONDAY, APRIL 10
1 Corinthians 1:4-9
Matthew 25:14-30

"…waiting for the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ."

WAITING FOR CHRIST’S COMING

As Christians, we "wait" (apekdekomai) for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:7). This "waiting" has the idea of eager anticipation for something good to happen. This waiting is one which is anxious, persistent and assiduous, almost like a parent waiting for his son to return home from a long trip overseas. Similarly, Christians are to await Christ’s return with much eager anticipation. It will be a day of Christ’s revelation (apokalupsis) in His glory and splendour.

However, we must not understand this "waiting" to be a period of inactivity or passiveness, just like waiting for a bus or a train. Waiting for Christ involves much activity, service and labour. Some cults teach their believers to sell all they have and go to an appointed place to wait for Christ to appear. What a devilish and wicked teaching to deceive the masses!

Christ gave us the parable of the talents in the Olivet Discourse to dispel any wrong notion of what it means to wait for His coming. A Christian is one who is characterised by a life of faithful stewardship. He will make use of whatever resources the Lord has given to Him to magnify Christ and His Word. Is our life characterised by such diligence and faithfulness for the Lord Jesus Christ?

A Christian should also look forward to the day when he will be presented "blameless" before God. We will be given a glorified body just like that of our Saviour. How should we respond? "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:2-3). Waiting for Christ’s coming also requires us to be wholly committed to walk in holiness and purity. How is our walk before our God? Amen.

THOUGHT: I must redeem the time, for the days are evil.
PRAYER: Help me to be faithful till Christ’s coming, O Lord.