For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,  training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Titus 2: 11-13

Last week our pastor began a series on Advent, preparing our hearts for the arrival of the Christ child. Around the birth of Christ, the people of Israel had been waiting for their Messiah for hundreds of years and today we await the return of the King!

This is indeed the time of year we celebrate the birth of Christ, but as followers of Christ we are anticipating our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ!”

Awaiting the return of Christ began almost immediately after the resurrection and so some decades passed and people began to question. The Apostle Peter responded with confidence –

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

2 Peter 3:9-10

God is patient. We wait. Expectantly.