August 7 — "He’s Coming: Live For Then"

 

Today's Reading: Titus 2

Jesus once declared, “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13). In that simple but powerful command, He calls His followers to active, intentional faithfulness while awaiting His return. The original Greek word He used means to conduct business, get to work, and fully engage with what you’ve been assigned. Occupying means wisely managing the resources and responsibilities entrusted to you by the King—until He comes back.

We’re not called to spiritual loitering. As believers, we’re commissioned to live godly lives whilst we wait upon His return. Waiting on Jesus doesn’t mean passive sitting—it means active preparing. Think of a bride on her wedding day. She’s not lounging in sweatpants, binge-watching TV, and snacking on Cheetos. She’s getting ready. She’s watching the clock. Her heart is racing with anticipation. That’s us. We are the Bride of Christ, awaiting our Bridegroom. Our role isn’t to blend in—but to stand out: prepared and radiant when He arrives.

In Titus 2, Paul reminds us that God’s grace has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. But grace doesn’t just forgive—it trains us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives right now. This is what it means to “occupy till He comes.” Why? Because we’re not waiting for just anything—we’re waiting for The Blessed Hope: the glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul called the return of Jesus the “blessed hope” because it’s the culmination of the ultimate promise that brings joy, assurance, and eternal life to every believer. He is pointing to the heartbeat of Christian hope: Jesus is coming back, and that changes everything.

In a culture saturated with indulgence and moral drift, Paul’s message stands out like a beacon. It calls us to a radically different lifestyle: one that is holy, hopeful, and eternally focused. The world shouts, “Live for now. Indulge. Chase pleasure. YOLO.” But Scripture whispers, “Live for then. Set your eyes on what’s coming.” Knowing Jesus will return should ignite our urgency, purify our hearts, and sharpen our vision.

So let’s take inventory. Are we living with eternity in view? Waiting doesn’t mean thumb-twiddling—it means resisting sin, embracing holiness, and pursuing God’s mission with all we’ve got. It means staying spiritually alert, not sleepwalking through life. Let’s live today like Jesus is coming back tonight—because maybe...just maybe...He will.

May the grace of God keep training your heart—teaching it to say ‘no’ to the fleeting and ‘yes’ to the forever. As you wait for the Blessed Hope, may the Holy Spirit keep you steady, joyful, and eager. Even so—come, Lord Jesus!