- Joined
- Apr 25, 2006
- Messages
- 17,518
3 June 2007
Hebrews 13:22-25
My brothers and sisters, I beg you to listen patiently to this message I have written to encourage you, because it is not very long. I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been let out of prison. If he arrives soon, we will both come to see you. Greet all your leaders and all of God's people. Those from Italy send greetings to you. Grace be with you all.
Are you ready to meet with God?
Is there any urgency in what you are doing to share the Good News, the love of God, with others?
Are there things that may hang like a cloud over a face-to-face meeting with Jesus any time now?
I often hear talk of "strategies for mission and evangelism", of Church planting, and new Fresh Expressions of Church that take time to mature and develop and take on a life of their own to begin to grow. I agree with all of this, and recognise that in many places it is through relationships with people that they come to see and know for themselves the love of God and commit themselves to be his disciples. That takes time and often when I was setting up new posts for Youth Ministers I would argue that anything less than a three-year contract was foolish and at least five years should be aimed for.
But in the first and second century the followers of Jesus had a sense of expectation that tomorrow may be the end of time, and the beginning of a new time - God's kingdom. The writer of the end of this book certainly expected Jesus to return soon, and wanted the readers to be encouraged by his words in readiness for that.
2000 years later. Have we lost that sense of expectation? Is there any urgency about saving our neighbours from eternity without knowing God? Are you ready?
Lord Jesus, you promised to return and bring about your new kingdom. Help me be ready, and do all I can to prepare others to share in your loving presence for ever. Amen.
Written by Neil Thomson
Hebrews 13:22-25
My brothers and sisters, I beg you to listen patiently to this message I have written to encourage you, because it is not very long. I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been let out of prison. If he arrives soon, we will both come to see you. Greet all your leaders and all of God's people. Those from Italy send greetings to you. Grace be with you all.
Are you ready to meet with God?
Is there any urgency in what you are doing to share the Good News, the love of God, with others?
Are there things that may hang like a cloud over a face-to-face meeting with Jesus any time now?
I often hear talk of "strategies for mission and evangelism", of Church planting, and new Fresh Expressions of Church that take time to mature and develop and take on a life of their own to begin to grow. I agree with all of this, and recognise that in many places it is through relationships with people that they come to see and know for themselves the love of God and commit themselves to be his disciples. That takes time and often when I was setting up new posts for Youth Ministers I would argue that anything less than a three-year contract was foolish and at least five years should be aimed for.
But in the first and second century the followers of Jesus had a sense of expectation that tomorrow may be the end of time, and the beginning of a new time - God's kingdom. The writer of the end of this book certainly expected Jesus to return soon, and wanted the readers to be encouraged by his words in readiness for that.
2000 years later. Have we lost that sense of expectation? Is there any urgency about saving our neighbours from eternity without knowing God? Are you ready?
Lord Jesus, you promised to return and bring about your new kingdom. Help me be ready, and do all I can to prepare others to share in your loving presence for ever. Amen.
Written by Neil Thomson
