Morning
Your work of faith.
This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.
Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. § Faith working through love. § He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. § We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. § [He] gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other … Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good plea- sure of His goodness and the work of faith with power. § It is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
1 Thess. 1:3; John 6:29; James 2:17; Gal. 5:6; 6:8;
Eph. 2:10; Titus 2:14; 2 Thess. 1:3, 11; Phil. 2:13
Evening
Where is the promise of His coming?
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all.” § Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.
The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:4; Jude vv. 14–15; Rev. 1:7;
1 Thess. 4:16–17; Titus 2:11–13
