The Lord’s Coming is Near

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

The Lord’s Coming is Near

Date: Sep. 25, 2022

Passage

James 5:7-20 (ESV)

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 5:8

You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

As Christians, we should be patient. Why is patience such a virtue for Christians? Because this life is a life of waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is coming. That is our sure hope. Just like the farmer, who, after he plants the seed in the ground, patiently waits for the rains that will make the crop grow, we must be patient and wait for his return. What can we do while we patiently wait? We stand firm in the word of the Lord (8), don’t grumble against our brother or sister (9), and persevere through our suffering that is inevitable in this life. We must, above all, refrain from making oaths. Our “yes” should always mean “yes”, and our “no” should always mean “no.”

We can also pray. This life is full of hardship and trouble, even for Christians. When we get into trouble, we should pray for guidance and help. When we are sick, we ask others to pray for us, for prayers offered in faith can make a sick person well. We also pray for those who are lost, that they might come back to the Lord.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, thank you that Jesus is coming again. Help me to be patient as I await your coming.

One Word: One Word: The Lord’s coming is near!

In the End, Have Faith in God

Genesis 49:29-50:26

Key Verse: 49:50:24

When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

Today's Question

What benefits in this life go with or come from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

See answer and references