Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
WEDNESDAY, July 28
Acts 1:1-14. "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Atomic fission makes the world's end very real. It should sober us all to work and sacrifice for peace. We could destroy the world--world suicide--but we dare not say that thereby we could force the Lord's Second Coming.
The gospel tells of the world's end, but in dramatic symbolism. Christ will take charge in a fitting climax to the drama of creation. The point is not a great explosion, but that "this Jesus" will come to us as he came to the disciples whose experience we long for.
Many early Christians were paralyzed by expecting the Lord's immediate Second Coming.
You know how it is when you wait for a train which "will be here any minute." What use is it to do anything? Saint Paul, revising his own first belief, had to tell the churches that the time of the Lord's return was not to be on their minds. Let them serve him who indeed might come anytime, but "study to be serene and do your own business." (1948)
PRAY for the Diocese of Ely (Canterbury, England)
Ps 72 * 119:73-96; Judges 3:12-30; Matthew 27:45-54
View the daily Lectionary Readings at Satucket.com.
Or view the Bible passages at Biblegateway.com.
A Meditation for Pentecost
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The reference to 1 Thessalonians 4:11 was helpful for me. I read the entire chapter to get it in context. It's clearer to me now that preparation for that day, the day of His coming, is not done with a checklist, or a ceremony. I must keep busy doing His work, love my brothers and sisters more and more, and humbly seek to be closer to Him in all that I do.