Meditation

05/14/2021

“And afterward, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the survivors whom the Lord calls.” (Joel2:28–32 “Day of the Lord”)

The hope for an historical day of the Lord gradually took the shape of future, eschatological hope. Often the two were intertwined as in this passage. The prophecy found direct fulfillment at Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21), yet ultimate fulfillment awaits the end time, as expressed in the apocalyptic language of the passage. Some aspects of the prophecy are fulfilled as people accept salvation provided through the work of Christ and the administration of the Spirit.

In regard to end times, the prophecy refers to God’s final intervention to complete His redemptive work. In this aspect the day of the Lord includes both judgment upon unrighteousness and reward for righteousness.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, it has been said by many people long before me, that there will be an end time and at that time, there will be a judgment both for the righteousness and the unrighteousness. For those waiting to claim the Lord before the end takes place, it would be wise to understand that waiting in not a recommendation. What is recommended is that we each accept God through our Lord Savior Jesus Christ now, as there will be changes for each person to make. If one proclaims being saved, but is not practicing the way of Christ, they may find their name in not in His Book of Life. Proclamation beloved, is only the beginning and it is in Jesus’ precious name that we pray you come to understanding before it is too late. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“You must feel conviction, before you can feel conversion.”

KNOWING GOD:

Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his on the wall only to have a snake bit him. Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light—-pitch dark, without a ray of brightness? (Amos 5:18-20)

Israel expected the day of the Lord to be a future time when God would vindicated both Himself and His covenant people against their common opposition, the ungodly. This passage enlarged the expectation and called for Israel to understand that they, not only Gentiles, would be the targets of God’s judgment because of their unfaithfulness. The day of the Lord will involved judgment upon all ungodliness, whether among the covenant people or the ungodly opposition. Those with greater opportunities for knowing and doing God’s will have more to fear from divine judgment as that day, if that greater privilege has not resulted in greater righteousness of life.

Amos’ immediate prophecy was to the fall of Israel at the hands of Assyria; many scholars believe the text calls for future application beyond that time. However, Amos’ reference to the day of the Lord shows how the term came to be expressed as apocalyptic language and eventually eschatological expectations. The later prophets envisioned the day of the Lore as the time when God would manifest His righteous kingship (Zech. 14:9), fill the earth with His knowledge, gather a remnant (Ida.11:1), and vindicated His saints.

I AM:

“Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” (1^st Thessalonians5:1-3)

The return of Christ and the future day of he Lord are intertwined concepts. Both are held forth in Scripture as events that will overtake the world suddenly and without warning as the breading in of a thief in the night. The majority of people will not be looking for coming judgment and destruction. To often we expect peace and safety to be achieved by human effort. The element of surprise is consistently predicted to be attached to the coming day of the Lord.

SECOND THOUGHT of the DAY:

“Many will say to me that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew7:22–23)

The Old Testament phrase, the day of the Lord, is shortened to “that day.” It refers to the future day of judgment for those whose lives bear evil fruit. It is the day when the faithful and genuine enter the future kingdom. “That day” will be one of the separation based on true character as revealed in outward conduct. It will be a day of surprise for those who performed public actions and even demonstrated unusual power but never committed their lived in submission to Christ.