How does eagerly awaiting Christ's return influence your decisions and priorities? Living in Anticipation of His Revelation “Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 1:7 Paul assumes something remarkable: every believer is actively, expectantly looking for Christ’s return. That anticipation naturally redirects the whole of life. Priority #1 – Pursue Holiness Because He Is Coming • 1 John 3:2-3: “Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” • 2 Peter 3:11-14 connects the coming day of God with “holy and godly conduct.” When you know He could appear at any moment, moral compromise loses its appeal. Entertainment choices, speech, relationships—everything is filtered through the question, “Will this please Him when He appears?” Priority #2 – Invest in Kingdom Work While Time Remains • Matthew 24:45-46 praises the servant “whom his master finds doing so when he returns.” • 1 Corinthians 15:58 urges steadfast, abundant labor “because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Eager expectation pushes us to trade earthly accolades for eternal fruit: discipling others, supporting missions, sharing the gospel, serving the church. Priority #3 – Stir Up and Use Spiritual Gifts Paul ties waiting for Christ directly to “not lacking any spiritual gift” (1 Corinthians 1:7). The gifts are tools, not trophies. Awaiting His return means: • Identify the gifts He has given. • Deploy them to build up the body now (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Unused gifts gather dust; used gifts prepare the church to meet the Lord. Priority #4 – Guard Hope and Joy in an Unsettled World • Titus 2:13 calls the second coming “the blessed hope.” • Philippians 4:5: “The Lord is near.” Instead of anxiety over global chaos, the heart stays buoyant: “He could split the sky today.” That hope steadies decisions about career, finances, and family, keeping them from being driven by fear. Practical Habits That Keep Expectation Fresh – Begin the day recalling Revelation 22:20: “Yes, I am coming soon.” – End the day rejoicing that you are one sunrise closer. – Schedule regular time in prophetic passages (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 14:1-3). – Link big choices—job changes, moves, purchases—to the question, “Will this advance Christ’s glory before He returns?” – Meet faithfully with believers (Hebrews 10:24-25) to encourage mutual watchfulness. Cascading Benefits of Eager Expectation • Balances urgency with patience. • Keeps the gospel central. • Fuels perseverance during trials (James 5:7-8). • Deepens love for Christ Himself, not merely His gifts (2 Timothy 4:8). The more His appearing fills the horizon, the clearer current priorities become, and the lighter every temporal burden feels. He is coming, and living in that certainty transforms everything today. |
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