For God has not appointed us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thess. 5:9–11
Merciful Father, there are some appointments we dread like the black plague, others we tolerate like a root canal, a few we simply forget, and others we celebrate as the highlight of our week. But there’s one appointment on the books that we’re looking forward to with mounting joy and with exponential gratitude.
In your sovereign grace and quintessential kindness, you’ve booked us for the day of salvation in Jesus—the most redemptive rendezvous imaginable. You have counted us among those upon whom you have set your eternal affections in Christ. You’ve guaranteed that nothing will separate us from your love or keep us from that day. The salvation you generated within us will be brought to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. That’s an inviolate appointment that you have made—one that is signed with the indelible grace of the gospel—the blood of the Lamb.
Lord Jesus, we praise you for your tender mercies and measureless sacrifice. We no longer fear God’s judgment for our sin, for you gladly took our appointment with his wrath. On the cross you endured the suffering we deserve and paid the penalty we owe. And you did it all so that whether we are “awake or asleep”—alive or dead—we might be with you. How can we not shout “Hallelujah!” How can we not sing, dance and fall down before you in consuming adoration?
That you actually desire us and want to be with us is astonishing, thrilling and so encouraging. Indeed, this is love, not that we loved you, but that you first loved us and gave yourself as a sacrifice of atonement and propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10).
In light of our unbreakable engagement with you, please use us as a source of hope in the lives of others. Who would benefit today, more than we can imagine, from a call, a note, a face-to-face visit, a word of hope, earnest prayer for very present struggles? Who’s being beaten down by life we can build up through your love? Show us how to encourage one another, and all the more as we see the Day approaching. So very Amen we pray, in your kind and compassionate name.
