2 Advent – Monday

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

– II Peter 3:10

Thus writes St. Peter concerning the coming of the Lord. It will be an amazing event indeed. Everything will topple. Everything will perish where now we live and have our existence. Terrors worse than those of death will seize upon the unbelievers. What will be going through the minds of those who have rejected their Savior? “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so. Amen” (Revelation 1:7). And yet, behold! those who, through faith, are His own, in spite of all, will know through the Holy Ghost that it is their beloved Savior coming in the midst of all these terrors, coming to deliver them from every evil work, and to preserve them unto His heavenly kingdom. And they will lift up their heads, and their fear will be turned into consolation, peace, and joy. How can you be afraid when – amidst all these fearsome things – you see your dear Savior coming? Only be ready at all times, and own Him as your Redeemer at all times – that on that yonder, great day, too – He may be your beloved Savior. And you do not know when that great day will come.

PRAYER. – Jesus, my Lord, Thou art my beloved Redeemer. O, indeed, I am not afraid of Thee; I trust in Thee and rely on Thee. Thou art my very best Friend. Thou hast redeemed me and received me as Thine own. Thou richly and daily forgivest me all my iniquities. Thou healest all my diseases. Thou speakest words of grace and love and comfort and life and eternal blessedness to me. O Lord Jesus, I know Thee. Keep me in this blessed knowledge of Thee until Thou shalt come, that I may rejoice in Thee and greet Thee, saying, “Jesus, Jesus, O my Savior!” Amen.

O Christ, who diedst and yet dost live,

To me impart Thy merit;

My pardon seal, my sins forgive,

And cleanse me by Thy Spirit.

Beneath Thy cross I view the day

When heav’n and earth shall pass away,

And thus prepare to meet Thee.

Hymn 604, 4.

Scripture Reading: Acts 1:9-12                  Theme: The Second Coming

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey.